According to insiders, the US government wants French companies that have contracts with the US government US regulations for the ban on diversity programs keep in companies. The companies were asked to comply with the rules for banning programs to promote diversity, Equality and inclusion (“Diversity, Equity and Inclusion”, DEI) in einem questionnaire to confirm. Reuters could see a copy of the questionnaire.
Answer within five days
The French newspaper “Les Echos” first reported on it on Friday evening. Accordingly, the letter was sent to the companies by the US message in Paris. No comment was initially available from the message. “We would be grateful if they were the document Fill out and sign within five days would and email back to us, “said the letter that the newspaper published on its website. Should the companies unmount you should explain your reasons in detail. This will then be forwarded to the legal department.
Company also received a company that did not work in the United States
According to media reports, companies from the areas belong Defense and infrastructure to the affected companies. It was unclear whether companies from other European countries received a similar questionnaire. There was no indication that the companies written on Because of their presence in the USA were selected. A person trusted with the matter said that the state -controlled French telecommunications group Orangethe not represented in the United States is, received the letter. Orange rejected a statement. The armaments group Thales and the oil giant total energy, both of which are active in the United States, did not get the letter, as spokesman for companies said.
Diversity programs are “illegal discrimination”
An official close to the French finance minister Eric Lombard said that the matter would be discussed with the US government. “This practice reflects the Values of the new US government opposite. They are not the same as ours. The minister will remind his counterparts in the US government, “he said.
In January, US President Donald Trump instructed ministries and federal authorities to delete all programs that promote diversity, equality and inclusion. By presidental decree, he also tipped a whole series of previous decades that have been in force for decades with which the Equal opportunities in employment and a Balanced line -up the workforce with regard to characteristics such as skin color, gender and religion. The aim of the decrees is also to dissuade private companies that receive government orders, to stop relatives of marginalized groups. DEI programs provided one “Illegal discrimination and preference” it said in the decree.