• A French court sentenced three individuals for human trafficking in the Champagne industry.
• Victims described conditions of exploitation and living "like slaves".
• The ruling reflects heightened scrutiny over labor practices within the sector.
• Four grape harvesters died during the 2023 season, raising serious safety concerns.
• Ongoing investigations focus on the treatment of undocumented Ukrainian workers.

A French court has sentenced three individuals for human trafficking involving seasonal workers in the Champagne industry, following a ruling that highlights the exploitation of vulnerable migrant laborers during the 2023 grape harvest. The convictions come amid intense scrutiny of labor practices in the region, exacerbated by the deaths of four grape pickers during extreme heat, according to Le Monde, Channel News Asia, and CBS News.

The three convicted individuals included the Kyrgyz director of a vine-growing servicing company called Anavim, who received a two-year prison sentence and two additional years suspended. She denied responsibility for the appalling housing conditions where over 50 victims, mainly undocumented workers from West Africa, lived during the harvest. The court's decision has been termed historic by representatives of the victims, who described their treatment as akin to that of "slaves", according to Le Monde and CBS News.

Each of the three defendants was found guilty of human trafficking, characterized by the recruitment, housing, and exploitation of individuals, often under coercive conditions. The court ordered a fine of €75,000 against a cooperative associated with Anavim and mandated that the defendants compensate each victim €4,000. Legal representatives for the victims expressed that the 2025 harvest will be closely monitored to prevent similar abuses, according to Channel News Asia and CBS News.

Victims recounted living conditions that seriously undermined their health and safety. Descriptions included being placed in a building with no food, water, or sanitation, which was later closed by authorities following inspections. Union representatives and industry stakeholders have emphasized the necessity for increased oversight, with calls from the CGT Champagne trade union for more severe penalties for labor violations and even downgrading harvests from affected areas. The broader impact of these practices and a separate inquiry into alleged use of undocumented Ukrainian workers underscore the ongoing challenges in safeguarding labor rights within the Champagne sector, according to Channel News Asia, Le Monde, and CBS News.