France/China - Disney
French racism complaint targets Euro Disney
Article published on the 2009-11-04 Latest update 2009-11-04 16:35 TU
Disney faces a racial investigation in France
(Photo: Reuters/Tyrone Siu)
It came as Disney reached agreement with Chinese authorities to open a theme park in Shanghai.
The anti-racism group said accounts from Euro Disney employees from supplier Adecco-Restauration described staff classification as African, north African, Caribbean or European, meaning white.
Even if the aim is to combat discrimination, French law bans companies or the government from collecting racial data on citizens.
SOS Racism claims work applicants were asked to specify from which region of France they came from such as Guadeloupe or Martinique, whose populations are mostly black and mulatto.
"We have nothing to hide," said a Disney official, who accused the anti-racism group of waging "a deplorable media campaign" against the US entertainment giant.
Disney confirmed that a bailiff had visited the site in Marne-la-Vallée on Wednesday but insisted that all of their paperwork was in order.
"The bailiff was able to see that we have no documents containing such categorisation or information," said the official, adding that "all of the information requested was provided."
The organisation has presented its report to Patrick Karam, President Nicolas Sarkozy's representative for equal opportunities for French citizens from overseas departments.
News of the complaint came on the same day that Disney announced that they had reached agreement with the Chinese authorities to open a theme park in Shanghai.
Neither side disclosed any figures or gave a time frame for the project, but previous reports have said the US entertainment giant will invest 3.6 billion dollars in the ten-square-kilometre park.
"China is one of the most dynamic, exciting and important countries in the world, and this approval marks a very significant milestone for The Walt Disney Company in mainland China," said Robert Iger, president and CEO for Walt Disney Co.
A statement from Disney said that the Chinese venture would be a "Magic Kingdom-style theme park with characteristics tailored to the Shanghai region".
US President Barack Obama will visit Shanghai on November 15 at the start of his first official visit to China.
