The Union of Professionals of the Government of Quebec (SPGQ) denounced Tuesday “the medieval treatment” reserved for translators of the State, whose number is in perpetual decline in a context of soaring subcontracting.
“With this medieval treatment, where all that is missing is the stake and mutilation, how can these state experts identify the intention and scope of various texts, carry out terminological research and faithfully render the meaning in English? of writing written in French? ” asked Line Lamarre, president of the SPGQ.
80% female staff, translators, of whom the number has dropped to 45 since 2020, work in difficult conditions. Despite their number, which has dropped by 20% in ten years, translators have come up against the employer’s refusal to hire more resources.
Badly paid and little recognized, translators are replaced by subcontractors they must train, because the recruitment process remains in vain, according to the union, specifying that potential candidates prefer to turn to the private sector which provides “a salary more generous ”.
“Even freelancers trained by our members are getting off the ship. The employer is trying to camouflage its use of abusive subcontracting by increasing the number of contracts and regularly changing subcontractors, ”lamented Ms. Lamarre.
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