Presumption of salaried status and “voluntary” work of foreign artists
In answer to a Member of Parliament who asked whether adaptations could be considered for foreign artists doing occasional voluntary work for a community service, the Ministry of Culture pointed out that in respect of live entertainment a specific section of the Labour Code provides for the presumption of an effective work contract for artists.
Therefore, accepting foreign artists for charity concerts for no fee on the grounds that their presence be deemed the corollary of humanitarian action cannot be regarded as being in accordance with the French Labour Code. It was also pointed out that numerous cases of “spurious voluntary work”, which are reported and judged in the courts, have prompted the inspectorates to be extremely vigilant in this respect.
Source: National Assembly 17 July 2007 (JO 5 August 2008) Mr Pierre Cardo, Member of Parliament for Yvelines (UMP)
