Human Trafficking Unveiled in Champagne Industry Trial

The trial in Reims, France, centers on three individuals accused of exploiting over 50 undocumented workers during the champagne harvest, revealing disturbing conditions that indicate widespread human trafficking in the industry.

In a significant trial that has opened in the eastern French city of Reims, serious allegations of human trafficking have surfaced within the champagne industry. The case involves three defendants: a Kyrgyz woman, a Georgian man, and a French national, all accused of taking advantage of more than 50 seasonal laborers, predominantly from West Africa.

During the 2023 grape harvest, these undocumented migrants were discovered living in deplorable conditions at a property in Nesle-le-Repons, situated near Reims, a region famed for its champagne production. The workers, who ranged from ages 16 to 65, were recruited through a Whatsapp message targeting the Soninke ethnic community from West Africa residing in Paris with promises of well-paid employment.

Testimonies from the workers highlight the grim reality of their situation. "They shouted at us in Russian and crammed us into this broken-down house, with mattresses on the floor," recounted Kanouitié Djakariayou, 44, in an interview with La Croix newspaper. Conditions were so unsanitary that they lacked clean water and adequate food, often subsisting on meager portions of rice and stale sandwiches. Doumbia Mamadou, another worker, expressed the trauma caused by the experience, stating, "We were traumatized by the experience. And we have had no psychological support, because when you have no papers, you have no rights either."

Authorities were alerted to this situation by a local resident, leading labor inspectors to assess the living conditions, which they described as a "serious breach of the occupants' safety, health and dignity." The legal proceedings revealed that these laborers worked long hours—ten hours each day with only 30 minutes allotted for lunch—and were transported in unsafe conditions, crammed into the back of trucks. No formal contracts existed, and the pay they received was not commensurate with their labor.

The primary suspect, Svetlana G., aged 44, ran a recruitment agency for the wine industry, while her two associates helped facilitate these violations. In addition to charges of human trafficking, she faces allegations of using undeclared labor, employing undocumented individuals without permits, and endangering the welfare of vulnerable persons. The trio could face up to seven years in prison and significant fines if convicted.

This case has brought into question the broader issue of worker exploitation in the €6 billion champagne industry, which relies heavily on approximately 120,000 seasonal workers each autumn for grape harvesting. In a troubling trend, several grape pickers have died from heat-related illnesses during harvest seasons, and past criminal cases have also surfaced regarding mistreatment of migrant workers.

Trade unions are calling for legal reforms, suggesting that champagne producers who indirectly employ illegal labor should lose their champagne labeling, stating, "It should not be possible to harvest the grapes of champagne using human misery," as expressed by Jose Blanco from the CGT union. Conversely, the Comité Champagne, representing producers, has asserted that such instances of worker mistreatment are rare and take immediate action when identified, participating in the trial as a civil plaintiff due to the "damage done to the brand" by these intolerable practices.