‘A customer touched my breast’: MP Rachel Keke testifies to sexual abuse suffered by maids

“There is rape and touching in this profession.” In the program “Focus Dimanche”, broadcast on the RTL channel, LFI MP Rachel Keke spoke about the reality of the maid profession.

Invited to discuss her book This Rage in My Heart, the man who became famous as a spokesman for the Ibis Batignolles hotel maids striking against the Accor group denounced the sexist violence and sexual abuse he suffered at his former job.

“There is rape and touching in this profession. Clients think they are free to do whatever they want,” she laments.

She says she was abused herself. “I was a victim of touching. The buyer touched my chest.” “In this profession, often when you knock on the door, the customer opens and shows you his penis,” the elected official assures.

“They are afraid of bad judgments”

The LFI deputy elected in the 7th constituency of Val-de-Marne also testifies to the prevailing impunity, in particular due to the origin of the maids. “These women, because they are racialized, because they don’t know the laws, the clients do whatever they want,” she says.

Double punishment for victims who remain silent. “The system means that today these women who are victims are ashamed to speak up. They are afraid of bad judgment against them,” explains the deputy.