Harvest of Shame: Trial Reveals Exploitation of Harvesters!

Harvest of Shame: Trial Reveals Exploitation of Harvesters!

A significant trial begins today in France that brings to light the dark side of popular champagne production. At the regional court in Châlons-en-Champagne, human trafficking and undeclared work, which are in vogue in the industry, are being heard. There is already a lot of reporting about the “grape harvest of shame”, which is about the scandalous working conditions of many harvest workers. These grievances primarily affect workers from countries such as Mali, Senegal and Mauritania, who live in catastrophic conditions and often have to work without residence documents. According to pz-news.de, in September 2023 the police became aware of around 60 such harvest workers who were living in a condition that hardly showed any human dignity.

The harvest workers, who often live in unsanitary conditions, do not even receive the promised 80 euros per day and have to be content with far less. Maxime Cessieux, a lawyer who represents many of these affected workers, speaks of a modern form of slavery. Not only is a placement company for agricultural helpers in the dock, but also its managing director, two recruiters and a wine-growing company. This raises the question: How can an industry that embodies a symbol of the French way of life allow such abysmal exploitation?

Insights into the reality of seasonal work

One aspect that is often overlooked is the immense business that lies behind the sparkle of the champagne bottle. In 2022, the champagne industry's sales will reach over six billion euros, and more than 100,000 seasonal workers will be needed every year to harvest the grapes on the approximately 34,000 hectares of cultivated areas. Work in the vineyards is strictly regulated according to legal regulations, but many workers report low wages and poor conditions. ZDF reports that seasonal workers like Youssef have already had experiences where the clients simply disappeared after the work was done without paying a cent.

Additionally, the work is not made any easier by the physical exertion and the need to pick each grape by hand. Among the foreign seasonal workers, who are often recruited at train stations or in parks, there are many asylum seekers who have to work in extreme conditions. The verdict of trade unionists like José Blanco is clear: there is a system of exploitation, and industry and the authorities play a partly responsible role in it.

Social responsibility and outlook

The problems in the champagne industry are not new. Trade unions and social associations emphasize that the current grievances are not isolated. Already in 2018 there were reports of 125 foreign harvest workers suffering from similar conditions. The French League for Human Rights (LDH) makes the point that farms are often lawless zones. The current situation not only requires a rethink in the industry, but also from the government.

Agriculture's dependence on foreign seasonal workers is becoming increasingly clear, a point that an analysis by landwirtschaft.de emphatically underlines. This work situation is reflected not only in the grape harvest, but also in the entire agricultural economy, where fewer and fewer Germans are willing to take on such physically demanding jobs.

The pressure on champagne producers is growing - not only due to the bad image such reports create, but also due to the increasing competitiveness of products such as Prosecco. Manufacturers are required to improve their approach to working conditions in order to meet the increasing need for sustainable and ethical consumption.