In a chilling revelation no less than a courtroom drama, a trial in Reims is shedding light on the exploitation and human trafficking within France's famed champagne industry. Three individuals—a Kyrgyzstani woman, a Georgian man, and a French national—are facing charges of exploiting over 50 undocumented seasonal workers primarily from West Africa.
The harrowing experiences of these workers were highlighted during the September 2023 grape harvest when they were discovered living in squalor in Nesle-le-Repons, located in champagne-producing territory. Recruited through a WhatsApp group aimed at the West African Soninke community in Paris with promises of "well-paid work," these workers ranged in age from 16 to 65 and hailed from Mali, Mauritania, Ivory Coast, and Senegal.
Testimonies from the workers recount their terrible living conditions. “They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor,” described Kanouitié Djakariayou. “There was no clean water, and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches." Another worker, Doumbia Mamadou, emphasized the lack of psychological support, remarking that those without legal status receive no rights.
State prosecutor Annick Browne outlined the recruits' tragic living situations, where cooking and sanitation facilities were dangerously substandard. Inspectors uncovered serious health and safety violations, including filthy toilets, inadequate showers, and unsafe electrical wiring. Further allegations indicate the workers labored long hours—up to ten a day—with minimal breaks and no written contracts, while their pay was grossly inadequate compared to their contributions.
Svetlana G., the principal accused, operates a recruitment agency specializing in labor for the wine sector, and along with two accomplices, faces charges including human trafficking, employing undocumented migrants, and housing individuals in unsafe conditions. If convicted, they could face penalties of up to seven years in prison along with substantial fines.
This case has illuminated broader exploitation issues in the €6 billion champagne industry, where manual labor is essential at harvest time. With approximately 120,000 seasonal workers recruited each autumn, labor unions emphasize the systemic abuse perpetuated by middlemen who often mask the involvement of illegal labor, urging legislative reforms.
Recent tragedies—such as six grape pickers who died from suspected heatstroke in 2023—have only intensified scrutiny of labor practices in these vineyards, prompting unions to advocate for stricter laws that could strip champagne producers of their designation if found guilty of using illegal labor.
In response to these indictments, the Comité Champagne, representing the industry, conceded to the realities unveiled during the trial and has acknowledged the detrimental impact on the champagne brand, stating that while such mistreatment is rare, it must be promptly addressed when identified.
