Investigation Reveals Dangerous Conditions for Migrant Workers at European Datacentres
A joint inquiry into tech infrastructure projects across northern Europe uncovered severe workplace injuries, squalid housing, and widespread wage disputes.
At a glance
- A five-month investigation exposed dangerous conditions and wage issues at datacentre sites in Belgium, Sweden, and other nations.
- A worker was severely burned in an electrical blast at a Google site in Belgium, where labour inspectors later found no employer wrongdoing.
- Subcontractors at a Microsoft site in Sweden faced an unreported tuberculosis outbreak, substandard living quarters, and unpaid overtime.
Migrant workers constructing major datacentres across Europe for major technology companies face severe safety hazards, substandard living conditions, and unpaid wages, according to a joint investigation by The Guardian and Investigate Europe.
The findings span projects in Belgium, Sweden, Norway, and the Netherlands during an unprecedented infrastructure boom. More than 2,300 datacentres are currently operating across the continent, with hundreds more under development to meet demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. However, labour unions argue that this rapid expansion heavily relies on the exploitation of foreign labour through complex subcontracting chains.
In one severe incident at a Google facility in Saint-Ghislain, Belgium, an electrical tester suffered catastrophic burns across 12% of his body after testing cables that were unexpectedly live. The worker, who spent five days in a medically induced coma, reported feeling pressured to conduct tests quickly without protective gear. Local labour inspectors closed their review without finding wrongdoing, while contractor Dornan Engineering maintained that it adheres to labour laws and safety standards.
Similar issues emerged at Microsoft’s €3 billion datacentre expansion in Gävle, Sweden. Subcontracted workers reported crowded, poorly heated living quarters with vermin infestations and inadequate plumbing. In February, an active tuberculosis case went unreported to Swedish health authorities despite spreading among staff sharing accommodation. Dozens of Romanian employees also documented working up to 60 hours per week without overtime or holiday compensation. The union Solidariska Byggare recently reached a settlement with subcontractor BenBau to secure back pay and union access.
Records show Sweden's Work Environment Authority has opened 50 cases since 2021 concerning datacentre projects linked to Microsoft and various contractors. Both Google and Microsoft stated that their supplier codes demand strict compliance with local labour laws, workplace health standards, and collective bargaining rights.
Source: The Guardian World.
Questions and answers
- What problems did the investigation uncover at European datacentre sites?
- The investigation found severe workplace injuries, substandard and crowded living quarters, unpaid overtime, and an unreported tuberculosis case among subcontracted migrant workers.
- How have tech companies responded to the findings?
- Google and Microsoft stated that their supplier codes require contractors to follow local labour laws, maintain safe workplaces, and respect collective bargaining rights.
