Migrant workers face hazardous conditions and exploitation on Europe’s datacentre sites
An investigation into Europe’s datacentre construction boom found evidence that migrant workers face dangerous conditions and labour exploitation across several countries. One electrical tester at a Google site in Belgium suffered severe burns after he says he was told power lines were off when they were live; unions say workers may fear speaking up because they risk losing their jobs.
Interviews and documents also pointed to overcrowded, poorly maintained housing in Sweden, an unreported tuberculosis case, and workers missing overtime and holiday pay. More than 2,300 datacentres operate in Europe, with hundreds more being built; in Gävle, a union representing 70 Romanian workers secured a settlement for back pay and union access. Companies cited in the investigation said they require safe conditions and compliance with labour laws.
In short
- Migrant workers report hazardous conditions on European datacentre sites.
- A worker suffered severe burns in an electrical accident in Belgium.
- Swedish workers secured back pay and union access after a settlement.
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The case for
The investigation describes serious risks to workers’ safety, housing and pay, and the reported settlement suggests unions can help secure remedies and access. Supporters of stronger oversight argue that companies benefiting from rapid datacentre construction should ensure contractors meet labour standards and that migrant workers can raise concerns without risking their jobs.
The case against
Companies and industry advocates can reasonably argue that allegations at particular sites do not establish that the sector as a whole tolerates exploitation, and that firms require safe conditions and legal compliance. They may favour enforcing existing rules and addressing failures through contractors and site-specific remedies, while warning that broad new obligations could add costs or delay construction without necessarily improving conditions.
Explained simply
Datacentres are large buildings that house computer servers and the equipment needed to keep them running. They support services such as websites, online storage and artificial intelligence, and building them requires many construction and electrical workers.
The companies that own datacentres rely on contractors and subcontractors to build and maintain their sites. Migrant workers are people who have moved to another country for work; some may depend on employers for pay, housing or continued employment, which can make it harder to raise concerns about conditions.
The expansion of datacentres has increased demand for construction work across Europe. Conditions on building sites matter both for workers’ safety and for whether they receive the pay and protections required by law.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Electrocutions, disease and no pay: how workers risk exploitation in Europe’s datacentres”.