In Rennes, Souleymane Barry, 20, has been employed in a bakery for three years. This Guinean, who arrived in France in 2019 when he was a minor, is threatened with expulsion despite “three years of perfect integration, crazy talent”, assures his boss. The fault lies in an “administrative imbroglio”, according to Olivier Cothenet. The young man, who was “protected by the State as an unaccompanied minor”, ​​allegedly had his fingerprints stolen during his visit to Dakar. “From one day to the next, he is a ghost on French territory, without any rights, without any protection,” denounces Margaux Cothenet.

To raise awareness and raise awareness among public authorities, these bakers launched a petition which, to date, has collected more than 28,000 signatures. The Objective? Obtain a residence permit from the prefecture for their employee described as an “exemplary employee”. “He speaks French, goes to school, flourishes and feels part of a society he loves,” underlines Margaux Cothenet. Qualities which convinced his bosses to sign Souleymane a permanent contract.

This story is reminiscent of that of another Guinean apprentice baker whose boss, in Besançon, also demanded his regularization, in 2021. His boss even went on hunger strike for around ten days and Personalities from the political, trade union, artistic or literary world had called on Emmanuel Macron to encourage the public authorities to grant a residence permit to the young man, 18 years old at the time. What was done: the Guinean baker’s apprentice from Besançon was regularized. A happy outcome which could give hope to Souleymane and his bosses.

Behind this story lies a major issue: the regularization of undocumented workers in so-called “shortage” professions (for which employers struggle to recruit). Undoubtedly the most sensitive measure of the immigration bill examined in the Senate from November 6 and in the Assembly in early 2024. A measure to which the Republicans are fiercely opposed, as its president Éric Ciotti recalled. “We will never accept in any form whatsoever the extension of the principles of regularization of illegal immigrants,” insists the deputy for Alpes-Maritimes.