A court case in Bordeaux has thrown a harsh spotlight on the conditions faced by many foreign seasonal workers in the vineyards of the Bordelais region. In July, the head of the vineyard service company EG Vitiprest was sentenced to 30 months in prison, with 20 months’ probation, and a fine of €15,000. His father received a 15-month sentence, with seven months’ probation, for "complicity." Additionally, the court imposed a five-year ban on running a business related to agricultural work.
Some workers testified that they slept crowded together on the floor, performed tasks beyond their roles as grape pickers, and did not receive the promised wages.
The judges were responding to serious allegations made by four Moroccan seasonal workers. These workers claimed they had paid 100,000 Dirhams (approx. €10,000) to secure their employment contracts and were subsequently forced to work in France. According to the industry platform "Vitisphere," testimonies also mentioned extremely cramped and unhygienic living conditions and excessively long workdays. Some workers testified that they slept crowded together on the floor, performed tasks beyond their roles as grape pickers, and did not receive the promised wages. A report by the Regional Directorate for Economy, Employment, Labor, and Solidarity (DREETS) confirmed these statements. The incidents occurred between April 2022 and May 2024 in the Gironde and Lot-et-Garonne departments in the southeastern Bordelais region. Three other defendants, who are relatives of the convicted, were acquitted. Whether there will be an appeal in the case remains uncertain.
Recently, another prestigious region of France faced scrutiny due to harvest-related issues: In 2023, several workers died in the Champagne region. A few weeks ago, a multi-step action plan was established there to better ensure proper working conditions for seasonal workers. SP
