Thirteen former employees of a marketing agency employed by Philip Morris filed a complaint for having signed an "illicit contract" which obliged them to promote iQos.
A NEW SCANDAL FOR PHILIP MORRIS?
« We were manipulated, scammed", Proclaim, in the columns of Le Parisien Thursday, three of the thirteen former employees of the tobacco giant Philip Morris who seized the industrial tribunal and filed a criminal complaint for "illicit contract". They accuse the American giant of having made them sell the “cigarette of the future” iQos illegally.
A deceptive contract. A year earlier, several individuals looking to make ends meet were recruited by the CPM marketing agency. Their three-month fixed-term contract, paid at the minimum wage, only mentions that they must “present and support users […] of a product resulting from new technologies, […] scrupulously respect the most absolute secrecy with regard to third parties for any information collected during their duties ”, according to the contract consulted by the daily.
A “totally illegal” advertisement. In reality, they are responsible for advertising, "Totally illegal Since the general directorate of health prohibits any promotion of tobacco, cigarettes developed by Philip Morris, iQos, supposed to be less harmful. During their job interview, the product is presented as a "revolutionary tool", tell the three former employees at the Le Parisien.
“Consume” and not “smoke”. Ten days later, a representative of the tobacco company Philip Morris takes care of their training. " They explained to us that the 
cigarette was destined to disappear and that they had been working for 15 years on this revolutionary alternative“, Reports one of the participants, specifying that they are asked to say“ consume ”and not“ smoke ”. Everyone leaves with 20 iQos and a budget of 45 euros per month to invite future customers for a drink.
A mission contrary to their values. They are then asked to activate their network to promote this cigarette, supporting demonstration; a difficult demand for these thirty-something non-smokers. And the agency does not give up on them to motivate them to results. Every day they have to send in their sales figures.
And when asked to canvass customers directly in tobacconists, the three Parisians decide to exercise their right of withdrawal. The agency that employs them then wants to break their contract. Two of the three friends contact the lawyer who now represents them and manage to get paid until the end of their contract. " Today, we want redress, we were made accomplices in a scam in spite of ourselves“, They assure.
Complaints for "illegal contract". The thirteen plaintiffs attack the CPM agency and Philip Morris. They seized the industrial tribunal for "illegal contract" and demand 115.000 euros in damages for each. For their part, the agency ensures that " the employment contracts established for our employees are all in line with the legal framework", Report Le Parisien, while Philip Morris justifies himself by confirming that " the facts communicated at this stage do not correspond to our practices. The contract between Philip Morris France and its partner only concerns the marketing of the electronic device iQos"
Source : Europe1.fr
