Champagne Human Trafficking: Three Jailed for Exploitation | JQJO

A French court sentenced three individuals to prison for human trafficking in the Champagne wine industry. Over 50 undocumented migrant workers, mostly from West Africa, were exploited and housed in deplorable conditions during the 2023 harvest. The court's decision, hailed as "historic" by victims' lawyers, involved a two-year sentence for the director of a servicing company and one-year sentences for two recruiters. The company was dissolved, and a fine was levied against a cooperative. This case follows another investigation into the treatment of Ukrainian workers during the same harvest, which saw four deaths. The ruling highlights ongoing concerns about worker exploitation within the Champagne region.