Modern Day Slavery 9 Structural Exploitation in the Champagne Harvest -

France’s Champagne harvest is often celebrated as a symbol of tradition, craftsmanship, and luxury. Beneath this glorified image, however, lies a labor system whose vulnerabilities have become increasingly associated with modern-day slavery.

Following the 2023 harvest season, French authorities launched investigations that uncovered severe exploitation of migrant workers in the Champagne region.