A significant number of employees at Evolution Georgia, an online casino company, have initiated a hunger strike as part of their ongoing protest for better working conditions. The strike, which began on July 12, 2024, has seen participation from around 5,000 employees, representing more than half of the company’s workforce. The strikers are demanding improvements in salary, working conditions, and overall treatment by the management.
Demands for Better Working Conditions
The primary demand of the striking employees is the improvement of their working conditions. They are calling for a salary increase, more time for breaks, and better sanitary and hygienic conditions in the workplace. The employees have also highlighted the need for a safe and comfortable working environment, provision of healthy meals, and food vouchers. Additionally, they are seeking an improved insurance package and an environment free from discrimination and degrading attitudes.
The conversation about the latter became more active after screenshots, presumably from the general chat of the Evolution Georgia management, where they refer to the employees in an offensive context and make fun of them, were shared on social media. Later, it was found that these screenshots are from several years ago. However, the company’s employees told Netgazeti that such an attitude continues on the part of the management. They claim that some of those shown in the screenshot conversation are still working in the company.
Evolution Georgia responded to the news the very next day. In the statement released by the company, it is written that the content of the correspondence is unacceptable to them, they will look into the issue and take “the strictest measures”.
Evolution Georgia’s Response
Evolution Georgia, a remote gambling service provider that entered Georgia in 2017, has about 8,000 employees in the country. The company has acknowledged the strike and stated that they are looking into the issues raised by the employees. However, the company has refrained from direct communication with the strikers and has instead been talking to the employees who continue to work.
The company has stated that the content of the offensive correspondence is unacceptable and that they will take strict measures to address the issue. Despite this, the strikers have expressed dissatisfaction with the company’s response and have vowed to continue their protest until their demands are met.
The members of the employees’ trade union say that the strike will continue “for as long as it takes to resolve the labor rights of the employees”. Evolution Georgia is a remote gambling service provider company that entered Georgia in 2017. Only in Georgia the company has about 8000 employees. Part of the employees founded the professional union Evo-Union. Based on the information of the mentioned trade union, more than half of the employees – about 5000 people – are going to strike. The main demand of the strikers is decent working conditions.
Solidarity and Support
The strike has garnered significant attention and support from various quarters. On the sixth day of the strike, a solidarity rally was held in front of the company office on Mechanization Street. The strikers called on citizens to support their cause and join them in their fight for better working conditions.
Makhare Patashuri, a member of the trade union Evo-Union, stated that the number of strikers is increasing and that the company has not communicated with the strikers during the six days of the strike. He noted that the company has been talking to the employees who continue to work, but has not addressed the concerns of the strikers.
The fact that the number of strikers is changing is confirmed by Evolution Georgia itself. The company says that at this stage up to 10% of the employees, that is, up to 800 people, are on strike. At this stage, the company refrains from talking to the strikers about the opportunities of the employees and the plans to eliminate the problem.
