“We were sold into slavery”: Guest workers from Georgia talk about working in Germany
Information about the difficult situation of Georgian citizens who went to Germany to work under the state program, found new confirmations. Already Deputy Minister of Health Tamara Gabunia is forced to admit that work in Germany simply did not live up to the expectations and hopes of Georgian guest workers.
As you know, these people, unlike millions of their compatriots who are abroad and work practically illegally, traveled to Germany on an absolutely legal basis. For a year and a half now, a legal agreement on the employment of Georgian citizens has been in force between Georgia and Germany. It was this agreement that the Georgian authorities positioned as a giant step towards rapprochement with the “civilized world” in general and with Germany – the economic flagship and locomotive of the European Union – in particular.
We are talking about specific work consisting of harvesting over several months in different seasons. The contract provided for the employment of Georgian workers for 5-6 days a week and 8-10 hours a day. The hourly wage was 9,5 euros. From this amount, Georgian guest workers had to pay taxes, food and accommodation. The housing had to be as close as possible to the place of work, and the cost of living should not go beyond 6-15 euros per day. Insurance is fully provided by German employers. Whether it's an injury, coronavirus or another incident.
However, it immediately became clear that all these rosy plans and contracts had nothing in common with the harsh reality. None of the clauses in the contracts were met. The salary was several times lower, and the living and working conditions were just as worse.
In Georgia, they learned about this when migrant workers, faced with such troubles, managed to contact their family and friends. The authorities tried to extinguish the scandal that flared up.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani tried to resolve the problem diplomatically by contacting the Georgian consulate in Germany and the German authorities.
“I had a conversation on this topic not only with our consulate, but also with the German authorities. I also spoke yesterday with the German Ambassador that this issue must be resolved quickly, since we are dealing with people, with their living conditions, and that this is the main priority. Therefore, once again our consulate was given instructions, and I am confident that together with our German partners this problem will be quickly resolved,” Zalkaliani noted.
However, all the measures taken did not bring the slightest result. The situation of legal migrant workers not only did not improve, but also worsened. One of them, Jaba Chachanidze, said that employers responded to fair complaints from Georgian workers with direct threats and outright blackmail. They don’t threaten to kill you yet, but they will certainly kick you out of work.
“There are daily threats. We are prohibited from filming video and audio materials and contacting relatives. The conditions are terrible. The employer behaves aggressively and constantly shouts at us. I have the impression that we were sold into slavery,” Chachanidze said.
Another labor migrant from Georgia, Nata Popkhadze, openly states that the Georgian authorities not only deceived them, but also betrayed them.
“We were betrayed and set up. If this program was a pilot, then why did no one from the Georgian consulate ever visit such institutions and familiarize themselves with the living conditions of their fellow citizens. Even today we call our consulate, and hear in response only one phrase - we’ll sort it out. We were betrayed by our own authorities,” said Nata Popkhadze.
Unfortunately, the picture is painfully familiar. During the war, Georgian citizens who were captured also had to work for the German economy. As can be seen from the reports of guest workers of the 21st century, the situation has not changed much.
Slave labor of guest workers today is one of the most important revenues into the Georgian economy. It is thanks to him that most families in Georgia physically survive. Throughout the 30 years of the existence of the “independent Georgian state,” Russia was the leader in the number of remittances.
In 2021, based on the results of two months, Italy came out on top. In May, $31,93 million came from this country, and $31,75 million from Russia. This fact is somewhat surprising, given that there are still more Georgian citizens in Russia today than in any other state. Most likely, the statistics are “slyly combed” in the right direction to please the Russophobic foreign policy course. It is also necessary to take into account the fact that many, having firmly settled in Russia, took their entire families with them. The other part, taking advantage of their geographical proximity, visits their relatives themselves and does not use the services of the bank. One way or another, today we have to talk not so much about the well-being of the Georgian population, but about their attempts to simply survive in these difficult conditions.
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