Paris - The French government will examine the demands by some 800 illegal immigrants with jobs in and near Paris to be given residency permits, Immigration Minister Brice Hortefeux said in an interview published Thursday in the daily Le Figaro.

The announcement came as a strike by hundreds of illegal immigrants working primarily in restaurants continued into its second week. But Hortefeux declared that there would be no mass legalization.

"There will only be a a case-by-case examination related to the existence of a job contract, the labour situation in the particular sector or a region," he said.

A recently passed law, drawn up by Hortefeux, allows for illegals working in sectors experiencing labour shortages to be given residency permits.

However, the head of the Union of Hotel Trade and Industries, Andre Deguin, said on April 21 that it would be necessary to grant residency to 100,000 illegals currently working in the entire French labour market.

"A humane solution must be found, and one that is economic for the heads of enterprises," Deguin told RTL radio. "If we don't legalize them, they must be laid off. So, in Paris ... you will have many, many restaurants totally disorganized. It will kill off a part of the tourism sector."

He said that about 50,000 illegal immigrants work in French restaurants and hotels, or about 3 per cent of the total, and most of them pay taxes and make social security contributions.

But Hortefeux said the number was exaggerated. "I don't think (the numbers cited) are realistic," he said. (dpa)