The spotlight is on a human trafficking trial underway in Reims, France, revealing grim truths about the exploitation of seasonal grape-pickers in the renowned champagne industry. Three individuals – a Kyrgyzstani woman, a Georgian man, and a French national – are being prosecuted for allegedly exploiting over 50 seasonal workers, primarily undocumented migrants from West Africa.
During the 2023 grape harvest, labor inspectors discovered these workers crammed into a dilapidated building in Nesle-le-Repons, suffering from deplorable living conditions. They had been recruited through a WhatsApp group targeting the Soninke ethnic community in Paris, with misleading promises of well-paying jobs. The migrant workers, aged between 16 and 65, hailed from countries including Mali, Mauritania, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
Survivors of this ordeal have come forward with harrowing accounts. Kanouitié Djakariayou, 44, recounted being shouted at in Russian and forced into overcrowded accommodations with no access to clean water or proper food. "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept," he lamented. Another worker, Doumbia Mamadou, 45, shared similar sentiments, describing their living conditions as "truly terrible" and lacking any psychological support due to their undocumented status.
The prosecution emphasizes that the living and working conditions of these migrants were shockingly substandard, violating their health and safety rights. Labor inspectors noted filthy toilets, inadequate showers, and unsafe electrical setups at the site. Workers reportedly toiled for ten hours daily with just half an hour for lunch, being transported to vineyards in the back of trucks without contracts or fair wages.
Svetlana G., the central figure in the trial, operated a recruitment agency known as Anavim, specializing in sourcing labor for the wine industry. Alongside her associates, she faces charges not only of human trafficking but also for employing undocumented workers, offering inadequate pay, and housing vulnerable individuals in unfit environments. All three could face sentences of up to seven years if convicted.
This trial has spotlighted broader concerns about the exploitation of labor within the champagne industry, which relies on approximately 120,000 seasonal workers each autumn. Recent statistics reveal a troubling trend, with several workers reportedly dying from heat-related illnesses during harvest seasons. Trade unions have been vocal about the need for legislative changes to hold producers accountable, suggesting that champagne brands should risk losing their labels if found guilty of hiring illegal labor, even indirectly.
While workers suffer, the Comité Champagne, representing producers, argues instances of mistreatment are rare and swiftly managed when identified. The organization has joined the trial as a civil plaintiff, acknowledging the significant damage to the champagne brand caused by such unethical practices.
Calls for reform continue as the trial unfolds, underscoring the urgent need to address labor exploitation in this prestigious yet problematic sector.
During the 2023 grape harvest, labor inspectors discovered these workers crammed into a dilapidated building in Nesle-le-Repons, suffering from deplorable living conditions. They had been recruited through a WhatsApp group targeting the Soninke ethnic community in Paris, with misleading promises of well-paying jobs. The migrant workers, aged between 16 and 65, hailed from countries including Mali, Mauritania, the Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
Survivors of this ordeal have come forward with harrowing accounts. Kanouitié Djakariayou, 44, recounted being shouted at in Russian and forced into overcrowded accommodations with no access to clean water or proper food. "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept," he lamented. Another worker, Doumbia Mamadou, 45, shared similar sentiments, describing their living conditions as "truly terrible" and lacking any psychological support due to their undocumented status.
The prosecution emphasizes that the living and working conditions of these migrants were shockingly substandard, violating their health and safety rights. Labor inspectors noted filthy toilets, inadequate showers, and unsafe electrical setups at the site. Workers reportedly toiled for ten hours daily with just half an hour for lunch, being transported to vineyards in the back of trucks without contracts or fair wages.
Svetlana G., the central figure in the trial, operated a recruitment agency known as Anavim, specializing in sourcing labor for the wine industry. Alongside her associates, she faces charges not only of human trafficking but also for employing undocumented workers, offering inadequate pay, and housing vulnerable individuals in unfit environments. All three could face sentences of up to seven years if convicted.
This trial has spotlighted broader concerns about the exploitation of labor within the champagne industry, which relies on approximately 120,000 seasonal workers each autumn. Recent statistics reveal a troubling trend, with several workers reportedly dying from heat-related illnesses during harvest seasons. Trade unions have been vocal about the need for legislative changes to hold producers accountable, suggesting that champagne brands should risk losing their labels if found guilty of hiring illegal labor, even indirectly.
While workers suffer, the Comité Champagne, representing producers, argues instances of mistreatment are rare and swiftly managed when identified. The organization has joined the trial as a civil plaintiff, acknowledging the significant damage to the champagne brand caused by such unethical practices.
Calls for reform continue as the trial unfolds, underscoring the urgent need to address labor exploitation in this prestigious yet problematic sector.
