blackworkers !

[Patf]

When we first came to France we knew nothing about "working on the black" ie that it's illegal. I put an advert in the local freebee for someone to help with fencing work and we were flooded with phone calls for weeks. We did take someone on and he worked for us for some time. Eventually we found out it wasn't legal - via this forum - so I offerred him a cheque d'emploi but he wasn't interested. I expect there are thousands of  immigrants like us who don't realise it's illegal here. Pat.

[Dick Smith]

Or is it just that you tend to assume that 'being legal' is their responsibility? The difference being that in France the client also gets stuffed by the revenue if it all goes wahoonie-shaped.

[Russethouse]

Beat me to it Dick, not declaring your earnings is illegal in the UK too, the difference is that as the customer I pay the work person and that is the end of my responsibility, in France if a work person is caught not declaring earnings the customer is liable for prosecution too.

I think there is another difference too: that between people who work  legitimately most of the time but do a few jobs 'on the side' and  those who are not registered at all.