A troubling trial in Reims reveals the exploitation of over 50 seasonal workers, predominantly from West Africa, in France's champagne sector, symbolizing a larger issue of labor exploitation in agriculture.
**Trial Unveils Human Trafficking Issues in Champagne Industry**
**Trial Unveils Human Trafficking Issues in Champagne Industry**
Conditions for seasonal workers in France's champagne industry raise serious human rights concerns.
In the eastern French city of Reims, a troubling trial has opened to address allegations of human trafficking within the champagne industry. Three individuals—a Kyrgyz woman, a Georgian man, and a Frenchman—are charged with exploiting more than 50 seasonal workers, largely hailing from West Africa. These undocumented migrants were discovered during the recent September harvest, living in dire conditions at an inadequate housing facility in Nesle-le-Repons.
The workers, aged between 16 and 65, were recruited through a Whatsapp group targeting the West African Soninke ethnic community in Paris, promising them "well-paid work." Upon their arrival, however, they faced harrowing living conditions. Kanouitié Djakariayou, one of the workers, recounted his experience of being housed in a dilapidated place with minimal access to clean water and poor food, stating, "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept."
Labour inspectors, alerted by a local resident, reported severe breaches in health and safety standards at the site, which included filthy toilets and unsafe electrical wiring. Moreover, the workers had to endure grueling ten-hour shifts with merely a 30-minute lunch break, all without any legal contracts or fair compensation. According to attorney Maxime Cessieux, who represents some of the affected migrants, the accused displayed a blatant disregard for human dignity.
Svetlana G., the 44-year-old female suspect, operated a recruitment agency catering to the wine industry and faces multiple charges, including human trafficking. If convicted, the trio could face penalties of up to seven years in prison along with hefty fines.
The case has underscored alarming realities about labor exploitation in the €6 billion champagne industry, which recruits around 120,000 seasonal workers annually. Tragically, during the 2023 harvest, six grape pickers reportedly died from suspected heat-related illnesses. Labor unions have drawn attention to the fact that many producers may turn a blind eye to such abuses, relying on middlemen to obscure labor practices. Jose Blanco, from the CGT union, stated, "It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery."
Conversely, the Comité Champagne, representing the industry, has insisted that cases of worker mistreatment are rare and swiftly addressed when discovered. They are participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff, acknowledging the detrimental impact of such practices on the champagne brand's reputation.
The workers, aged between 16 and 65, were recruited through a Whatsapp group targeting the West African Soninke ethnic community in Paris, promising them "well-paid work." Upon their arrival, however, they faced harrowing living conditions. Kanouitié Djakariayou, one of the workers, recounted his experience of being housed in a dilapidated place with minimal access to clean water and poor food, stating, "I never thought the people who made champagne would put us up in a place which even animals would not accept."
Labour inspectors, alerted by a local resident, reported severe breaches in health and safety standards at the site, which included filthy toilets and unsafe electrical wiring. Moreover, the workers had to endure grueling ten-hour shifts with merely a 30-minute lunch break, all without any legal contracts or fair compensation. According to attorney Maxime Cessieux, who represents some of the affected migrants, the accused displayed a blatant disregard for human dignity.
Svetlana G., the 44-year-old female suspect, operated a recruitment agency catering to the wine industry and faces multiple charges, including human trafficking. If convicted, the trio could face penalties of up to seven years in prison along with hefty fines.
The case has underscored alarming realities about labor exploitation in the €6 billion champagne industry, which recruits around 120,000 seasonal workers annually. Tragically, during the 2023 harvest, six grape pickers reportedly died from suspected heat-related illnesses. Labor unions have drawn attention to the fact that many producers may turn a blind eye to such abuses, relying on middlemen to obscure labor practices. Jose Blanco, from the CGT union, stated, "It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery."
Conversely, the Comité Champagne, representing the industry, has insisted that cases of worker mistreatment are rare and swiftly addressed when discovered. They are participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff, acknowledging the detrimental impact of such practices on the champagne brand's reputation.
