Lyon, April 7 – The Chamas Tacos restaurant located on Rue Terme in Lyon’s 1st arrondissement has been administratively closed for three months following an unannounced inspection that revealed the employment of several undocumented workers. This is the third time in three years that the establishment has faced closure, though previous instances were related to hygiene issues.
Repeated Closures for the Fast-Food Chain
The latest closure, effective since Friday, April 3, 2026, stems from a control conducted by agents from the regional directorate for economy, employment, labor, and solidarity. Unlike previous inspections in February 2024 and January 2025, which cited severe hygiene deficiencies, this time the focus was on the employment status of the staff.
During the lunch service inspection, labor inspectors identified several individuals working without proper authorization. These included:
- An Algerian national, wearing the company’s logo, working in the hot food section of the kitchen.
- A Tunisian national, also in company uniform, serving customers. This individual was unable to provide identification or proof of legal right to work in France.
- Another Tunisian national, preparing sandwiches and monitoring fries, who stated he had been in France for three years awaiting a residency permit, despite being on a full-time permanent contract since 2023.
- A third Tunisian national, similarly dressed, responsible for making tacos and rice bowls, who also failed to present valid identification or work authorization.
False Documents and Intentional Non-Declaration of Employees
Further investigation revealed that in February, the Chamas Tacos group had submitted Belgian, Italian, and Spanish identity documents to the labor inspection to justify these workers’ employment. However, these documents were found to be counterfeit.
According to the Rhône Prefecture, the manager intentionally failed to declare the employment of these individuals. The prefecture stated, “The manager deliberately employed foreign nationals without legal residency permits allowing them to work in France, and he could not have been unaware of the true nationality and non-European character of the employees.”
Three-Month Administrative Closure Imposed
In light of these findings, the Chamas Tacos in the 1st arrondissement of Lyon has been subjected to an administrative closure for a period of three months, beginning April 3. A notice of the closure has been displayed on the restaurant’s storefront. Attempts to contact the restaurant’s management for comment have been unsuccessful.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges within the fast-food sector regarding labor law compliance and underscores the vigilance of authorities in enforcing regulations concerning employment and worker status.
Source: actu.fr
