Bedbugs continue to invade France. A high school has been infested, and teachers have requested the "right to withdraw"
Bedbugs were discovered at Elisa-Lemonnier High School in Paris. Faced with the authorities' refusal to close the educational institution, teachers are invoking their "right to withdraw," according to Le Figaro.
Bedbugs continue to invade the capital of France. On October 5th, at Elisa-Lemonnier High School (Paris 12), bedbugs frightened a considerable number of students and teachers, who chose to return home, exercising their "right to withdraw", notes the publication.
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The alert was raised on the evening of Wednesday, October 4th, when several pests were spotted in the Documentation and Information Center (CDI) of the high school. The principal then called in a "canine detection company", which intervened Thursday morning "before 8 a.m.", according to Le Parisien. Upon confirming infestations in several restricted areas, the bedbug treatment was initiated.
At the moment, authorities are reluctant to shut down the high school, as there is deemed to be "no significant risk at this point". Nevertheless, is it mandatory for the teachers to proceed with their classes? From the principal's perspective, the facility "can remain open", and absences must be "justified", according to Le Parisien.
The teachers have, however, invoked their "right to withdraw", which allows an employee to refuse to come to work or to leave work without the prior agreement of the employer, if the work situation presents a serious and immediate danger to their life or health, according to the official website of the French administration.
"At 8 a.m., students and teachers remained outside on the sidewalk. Teachers asserted their right to withdraw (...) None of the 80 teachers who were supposed to be at work entered the building", said a high school teacher to AFP.
In a message sent to high school teachers on Thursday afternoon, the principal informed them that the pest control company mobilized in the afternoon would intervene again.
On Friday, the contaminated areas will be closed "awaiting disinfection", but the rest of the high school will be "available to receive students and teachers", emphasizes the director, stating that "the facility remains open, and everyone is expected to come to work".
At least two schools, a college in Marseille and an elementary school in Villefranche-sur-Saône (Rhône), have been closed in recent days after bedbugs were discovered.
