*The opening of a human trafficking trial in Reims has shed light on the exploitative practices and substandard living conditions faced by migrant workers in France's champagne production sector, raising concerns about systemic issues in the industry.*
**Human Trafficking Trial Uncovers Abuse in Champagne Harvesting Sector**
**Human Trafficking Trial Uncovers Abuse in Champagne Harvesting Sector**
*Trial in Reims reveals dire conditions faced by undocumented migrant workers in France's prestigious champagne industry.*
The eastern city of Reims is currently at the center of a human trafficking trial involving three individuals accused of exploiting over 50 seasonal workers, primarily from West Africa. The trial highlights alarming conditions under which undocumented migrants harvested grapes for the 2023 champagne season.
The defendants comprise a Kyrgyz woman, a Georgian man, and a French national, all implicated in a scheme that recruited workers via a WhatsApp message circulated within the West African Soninke community in Paris. The workers, aged from 16 to 65, were found in dire living conditions in a Nesle-le-Repons building, situated in the heart of France’s renowned champagne-producing area.
"They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor," recounted Kanouitié Djakariayou, a 44-year-old worker, in an interview with La Croix. Describing the plight faced by the migrants, he added, "There was no clean water, and the only food was a bowl of rice and rotten sandwiches."
Another worker, Doumbia Mamadou, 45, expresses dismay over their treatment: “What we lived through there was truly terrible. We were traumatized by the experience. And we have had no psychological support, because when you have no papers, you have no rights either.”
Labour inspectors uncovered the appalling conditions after receiving a tip-off from a concerned local resident about the situation. The prosecutor, Annick Browne, highlighted significant violations concerning the workers’ safety, health, and dignity. The migrants were forced to work long hours with minimal breaks, living in unsanitary conditions, and were transported in hazardous ways, including squatting in the back of trucks.
The accused group faces serious charges, including human trafficking, undeclared labor, employing foreigners without proper permits, and providing inadequate working conditions. If convicted, they face potential jail sentences of up to seven years. Svetlana G., the female defendant, operated a recruitment agency named Anavim, which aimed to supply labor for the wine industry.
The trial has ignited discussions surrounding worker exploitation within the €6 billion champagne sector. With the industry's reliance on approximately 120,000 seasonal laborers every autumn, there is growing concern regarding the safety and rights of these workers.
Recent years have seen several fatalities among grape pickers, with six deaths attributed to suspected heatstroke during the 2023 harvest season in Champagne and Beaujolais. Trade unions claim that some champagne producers evade responsibility by employing intermediaries, advocating for legal reforms to hold producers accountable. Jose Blanco of the CGT union stated, "It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery."
In contrast, the Comité Champagne, representing the interests of champagne producers, asserted that reports of worker mistreatment are rare and are swiftly addressed when discovered. The Comité is participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff, acknowledging the reputational damage inflicted on the champagne industry due to such "unacceptable practices."
