Manpower Inc: France in probe of staffing firms

Manpower and Vedior, the world’s second and third-largest staffing firms, are being investigated in France for alleged competition law infringement.

A spokeswoman for Manpower said the US firm was unsure what it was alleged to have done wrong, but was co-operating with French authorities.

Dutch company Vedior said it could not fully comment until investigations were completed.

Last month both firms and a rival got approval for an internet joint venture.

Together with the French arm of Adecco SA, the world’s largest staffing firm, the European Commission gave its approval for the website-based enterprise.

Manpower has 4,300 offices in 67 countries and territories, serving some 400,000 customers per year. It reported sales of $12.2bn (£9.18bn) in 2003.