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The OGBL union has criticised the provisional approval given to French care home operator Orpea in Luxembourg, citing concerns over the group’s history of scandal in France.
In a press release published on Thursday, the OGBL said it was “incomprehensible” that the Minister of Family, Corinne Cahen, had issued a provisional approval to the care home operator on 3 November, following a string of scandals concerning the group’s management of its French properties. The OGBL said it opposed the creation of Orpea residences in Luxembourg and warned that their operation in France was “far from an isolated phenomenon.”
The trade union added that the Orpea group was known to be controversial, after allegations of resident abuse and mistreatment surfaced in France earlier this year. The issues were reported in a number of care homes for the elderly operated by the Orpea group. In addition, the group has been dogged by allegations of embezzlement of public funds, fraud, lack of respect for union rights, real estate speculation, and questionable human rights practices, said the OGBL.
However, Cahen indicated she did not have the option to refuse the group’s authorisation to open care homes in Luxembourg if they were able to meet all legal conditions. The OGBL criticised the absence of quality criteria in the authorisation procedure, and added that the group’s financial difficulties did not appear to have been taken into consideration when granting the provisional approval.
Finally, the union raised concerns over the guarantees requested by the Minister from Orpea concerning the treatment of its future residents and employees.
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