Workers building European datacentres face unsafe conditions and fear of retaliation

The Guardian reported that as thousands of datacentres rise across Europe, some of the labour behind them is exposed to hazardous conditions and intimidation. Investigations by the Guardian and Investigate Europe uncovered evidence of workers being pressured to skip safety measures and fearing job loss if they object.

One example involved a 34‑year‑old electrical tester named Sandu at a Google datacentre in Saint‑Ghislain, Belgium, in March. He said he had been on duty for almost ten hours when a last‑minute task was assigned. The job required testing the safety and integrity of electrical wiring, but the protective suit needed for the work was locked away. Sandu chose not to retrieve it, adding that the round trip would have taken another fifteen minutes and people were waiting.

Sandu explained that such rushed assignments were routine, saying, “I had no choice. People have been fired after saying no.” The report highlights a pattern of workers being compelled to work without proper protection and fearing dismissal for raising concerns.

Why it matters

The findings expose labour abuses in a fast‑growing sector, showing that rapid expansion of digital infrastructure can come at the cost of worker safety and rights.

Key details

Location

Belgium · Europe

Reported by

The Guardian

First reported

30 Oct 2026, 10:30 IST

Key names

Investigate Europe, Europe, Guardian, Sandu

Section

World

Figure cited

The 34-year-old electrical tester had already worked almost 10 hours, but says such last-minute jobs were normal: “I had no choice. (The Guardian)

Sources

This is an independent summary. Read the full, original reporting from the publisher:

• The GuardianElectrocutions, disease and no pay: how workers risk exploitation in Europe’s datacentres 30 Oct, 10:30

Read the full story at The Guardian ↗

Spotted an error? Request a correction · How this summary was produced