It's a tough life being a reality TV contestant in France. Those scantily clad figures slaving away on sun-toasted beaches and expending sweat and tears around luxury swimming pools might look as if they are having fun – mais non.
In fact, it is extremely hard labour for which they deserve to be paid handsomely, France's highest appeal court has decided. And the going rate for this relentless toil at the coal face of light entertainment?: €1,400 (£1,230) a day, slightly more than the French monthly minimum wage.
The court has declared the contestants must be treated as salaried staff, paid a fixed wage plus social charges and overtime and be allowed a 35-hour working week. The decision could cost French television companies over €52m.
Now the French lawyer who brought the case says it has opened the way for claims by those taking part in reality shows the world over. Jérémie Assous is already in talks with legal firms in Britain, America, Spain and Israel over future lawsuits. "The principle is universal and simple. You cannot make people work 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That is slavery, even in a country where the laws are more liberal," he said. "And as far as I'm aware slavery is banned, even in Britain."
Guardian
