In a significant legal case that has drawn attention to the darker side of France's famed champagne industry, a trial has commenced in Reims, exposing allegations of human trafficking and the exploitation of seasonal workers. Three individuals – a Kyrgyzstani woman, a Georgian man, and a Frenchman – stand accused of taking advantage of over 50 undocumented migrant workers, primarily from West Africa.
These laborers, aged between 16 and 65, were discovered during the 2023 September harvest living in deplorable conditions in a run-down building located in Nesle-le-Repons. The group, which included migrants from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, had been lured into the workforce via a WhatsApp message promising lucrative employment in the champagne-producing region.
One worker, Kanouitié Djakariayou, described the horrifying living conditions: "They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor. There was no clean water and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches." Another migrant, Doumbia Mamadou, stated, "What we lived through there was truly terrible... we have had no psychological support because when you have no papers, you have no rights either."
Following a tip-off from a local resident, labor inspectors visited the site, finding severe violations regarding safety, health, and dignity. Prosecutor Annick Browne detailed a range of shocking conditions, including inadequate sanitary facilities and unsafe electrical setups. The migrants reportedly worked ten hours daily with only a half-hour for lunch, transported like cargo in the back of trucks.
The 44-year-old woman implicated, identified as Svetlana G., operated a recruitment agency specializing in labor for the champagne industry. Alongside her co-defendants, she faces charges that include human trafficking and employing undocumented workers under poor conditions. A conviction could lead to significant jail time and fines.
This case has not only illuminated individual exploitation but has also raised broader concerns regarding labor practices across the €6bn champagne industry, which relies heavily on around 120,000 seasonal workers each autumn. In recent years, there have been other alarming incidents, including heat-related deaths among workers, eliciting demands for tighter regulations.
Unions argue that many champagne producers shield themselves behind agencies to dodge responsibility for labor violations. They are advocating for legal reforms, suggesting that champagne producers who employ illegal labor should lose their branding to prevent exploiting vulnerable populations. Conversely, the Comité Champagne, representing the industry, maintains that such mistreatment is rare and swiftly addressed when uncovered, while also participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff due to the damage sustained by the brand.
These laborers, aged between 16 and 65, were discovered during the 2023 September harvest living in deplorable conditions in a run-down building located in Nesle-le-Repons. The group, which included migrants from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, and Senegal, had been lured into the workforce via a WhatsApp message promising lucrative employment in the champagne-producing region.
One worker, Kanouitié Djakariayou, described the horrifying living conditions: "They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor. There was no clean water and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches." Another migrant, Doumbia Mamadou, stated, "What we lived through there was truly terrible... we have had no psychological support because when you have no papers, you have no rights either."
Following a tip-off from a local resident, labor inspectors visited the site, finding severe violations regarding safety, health, and dignity. Prosecutor Annick Browne detailed a range of shocking conditions, including inadequate sanitary facilities and unsafe electrical setups. The migrants reportedly worked ten hours daily with only a half-hour for lunch, transported like cargo in the back of trucks.
The 44-year-old woman implicated, identified as Svetlana G., operated a recruitment agency specializing in labor for the champagne industry. Alongside her co-defendants, she faces charges that include human trafficking and employing undocumented workers under poor conditions. A conviction could lead to significant jail time and fines.
This case has not only illuminated individual exploitation but has also raised broader concerns regarding labor practices across the €6bn champagne industry, which relies heavily on around 120,000 seasonal workers each autumn. In recent years, there have been other alarming incidents, including heat-related deaths among workers, eliciting demands for tighter regulations.
Unions argue that many champagne producers shield themselves behind agencies to dodge responsibility for labor violations. They are advocating for legal reforms, suggesting that champagne producers who employ illegal labor should lose their branding to prevent exploiting vulnerable populations. Conversely, the Comité Champagne, representing the industry, maintains that such mistreatment is rare and swiftly addressed when uncovered, while also participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff due to the damage sustained by the brand.
