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At the same time as the leadership disputes at CMCM, similar chaos is unfolding at ProActif.
ProActif is an employment initiative that was founded over 25 years ago to help people with various challenges enter the workforce. ProActif is financed through its own work but also through co-funding from the government.
It focuses on social and vocational reintegration as well as continuous training. Activities range from gardening and cleaning to carpentry. However, over the past few weeks, the leadership of the employment initiative has been embroiled in chaos.
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The laudable values at the heart of ProActif have been overshadowed by a dispute over François Georges, the former Director of ProActif. After being dismissed based on allegations of "aggression and misconduct," his dismissal was not reversed on appeal.
ProActif, after more than two decades, has transitioned into a societal impact company (SIS) instead of remaining a non-profit organisation (ASBL). A SIS, unlike an ASBL, is designed to generate some form of revenue, not necessarily for profit, but primarily to reinvest the money into activities serving wider society and sustainability.
However, since this switch, serious internal conflicts have erupted, not just regarding governance issues but also concerning the behaviour of the disgraced director, François Georges.
The boiling point was reached when then Director François Georges and President Norbert Conter had a strong disagreement. Upon being criticised of his mandate, Georges proceeded to behave in a threatening and aggressive manner to the point where another member of the management team had to intervene. This version of events has also been confirmed by witnesses in sworn testimonies. Others added that Georges continued to escalate the situation by yelling even after Conter had left the room. According to witnesses, Georges was completely out of control and could not be reasoned with.
This is not the first instance of Georges's aggressive behaviour.
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François Georges is alleged to have verbally abused a union secretary in April 2021 in the presence of the Luxembourg Confederation of Christian Trade Unions (LCGB) General Secretary, to the extent that it was audible on other floors of the building. The former director is also said to have slammed the door so forcefully that the walls shook on the floor above.
However, to make matters worse, Georges has also been accused of making racist, xenophobic, or otherwise offensive remarks, especially targeting French cross-border workers, individuals of African origin, or people with disabilities, confirmed to RTL through sworn statements.
The list of accusations continues for Mr Georges as he also allegedly mishandled funds and exceeded budgets without the required sign-off by a second authorised person. There are accusations of the misuse of ProActif's fuel card with François Georges reportedly filling up private cars and a motorcycle. This includes roaming charges of over €5.000, primarily for streaming during his holidays.
There are also documented reports that François Georges, as director, frequently arrived at the office between 10 and 11 in the morning. RTL will delve into the details of these documents in an upcoming report.
In an extraordinary assembly at ProActif, the revocation council decided on the dismissal of François Georges. The decision was made by a majority vote. Three people, known members of the CSV, did not vote for the resolution. One can only speculate about their motivations.
The Minister of Labor, Georges Mischo, has been kept in the loop about all aspects of the affair.
