France is facing renewed scrutiny of its workplace safety regulations following the deaths of three adolescents in as many weeks during internships and work-study programs. The CGT Educ’action union has denounced these “tragic accidents” and is demanding stricter supervision of training periods in professional environments. The government has responded by promising reinforced measures to protect young people at work.

The CGT National Education Syndicate released a statement expressing outrage over the recent fatalities. “Students must be at school and not die at work,” the union declared.

The union detailed the incidents, stating, “After a 15 -year -old apprentice at the end of April, then a 17 -year -old baccalaureate in baccalaureate, it was a 16 -year -old student of second class in observation to lose life in business.” The Ministry of Labor has confirmed “the deaths of these three minors at work”.

A Trainee Crushed by a Palette

The most recent incident involves a high school student from Saint-Lô (Manche) who died on Wednesday from injuries sustained in an accident on Tuesday at the store where he was interning, according to the Coutances prosecutor’s office. The prosecutor’s office stated, “When manipulating the palette by the manager of the brand using a forklift, the goods switched to the young trainee.”

The examination, initially opened for involuntary injury, is now focused on potential manslaughter in the workplace. The Coutances prosecutor’s office aims to “determine the exact circumstances, verify compliance with workers’ labor and safety legislation.”

The CGT Educ’Action argues that “With the explosion of internship periods in business,young people are increasingly exposed to dangers without being prepared for it.” The union is urging a review of the obligations related to internships, calling to “rethink them to better supervise them and ensure the safety of young people in business”.

“Students must be at school and not die at work.”

“These Accidents Create a Legitimate Emotion”

The CGT Educ’Action is advocating for “the abolition of internships in business from the 3rd and sequences of observation in second which do not represent interest and the prohibition of learning before 18 years”.

The Ministry of Labor acknowledged the gravity of the situation. “These accidents create a legitimate emotion. It is not acceptable that young people who begin their professional lives find death at their workplace. This is the reason why minister Astrid Panosyan-Bouvet asked to instruct a reinforcement of measures intended to prevent these serious and deadly accidents that will be presented to the social partners,” the ministry commented.

The ministry emphasized existing measures designed to protect young workers, who are considered “a public particularly vulnerable to accidents,” particularly within the framework of preventing serious and fatal work accidents. in 2023, “said the Ministry of Labor,” 33 young people under 25 died in their workplace.