Evolution Georgia Faces Massive Strike Over Poor Work Conditions

Background of Evolution Georgia Strike

Evolution Georgia is a subsidiary of the Swedish company Evolution, listed on the Stockholm stock exchange, and a service provider for various international online casinos.

With a workforce nearing 8,000, the grievances of such a significant portion of its employees cast a shadow over its operational standards and corporate ethos.

The situation escalated following the emergence of internal communications revealing discriminatory remarks by company management, including sexist and racist comments.

This leak intensified the employees’ resolve to strike, signaling deep-seated issues within the company culture. The incident was further highlighted by a disturbing video released by Mautskebeli showing janitors forced to take breaks in deplorable conditions.

“We are going to go on a lifelong full-scale strike in ‘Evolution’ to demand an increase in wages and decent working conditions, until the problems and demands are fully met,” declared Giorgi Diasamidze, the chairman of the Labor union, at an emergency briefing.

The discontent among employees has been fueled by leaked internal communications showing management engaging in sexist, racist, and discriminatory behavior. “It was exactly the same attitude in the process of these negotiations that you read in the screenshots,” Diasamidze explained.

Company’s Response and Public Reaction

In response to the public backlash, Evolution Georgia issued a statement condemning the exposed communications and vowed to conduct a thorough investigation.

“We deal with any unacceptable actions of the employees strictly and fairly and we act in accordance with the law in force in Georgia,” the company stated.

However, this has done little to quell the discontent among employees, who view the response as inadequate given the scope of the allegations and the systemic nature of the issues.

Giorgi Diasamidze has been vocal about the ongoing struggles to negotiate fair labor practices with Evolution Georgia. The planned strike follows unsuccessful mediation efforts and is supported by local rights groups like the Social Justice Centre, which has called for more robust intervention by the government’s Labour Inspection Service.

Historical Context and Ongoing Issues

This is not the first time Evolution Georgia has been under scrutiny for its labor practices. In March 2020, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the company laid off 1,300 employees, citing economic pressures.

There have also been reports of sexual harassment within the company, adding another layer of urgency to address the cultural and operational failures.

Employees report working in a “very stressful environment” with no windows, unsanitary conditions, and recurring issues with insects each summer. “The management has no response and is not going to fix all this,” said Makhare Patashuri, an employee, reflecting a deep-seated frustration with the company’s lack of action in improving their workplace environment.

Media Inquiry Ahead of the Strike

In light of the upcoming strike, iGamingExpress reached out to Evolution Georgia with several pressing questions concerning the ongoing crisis:

1. Does Evolution confirm that the publicly shared screenshots revealing discriminatory remarks by company management, including sexist and racist comments, represent real incidents that occurred at the Georgian branch?
2. One of the employees has reported that previous mediations between Evolution and its employees were unsuccessful. Why does the company believe it failed to reach an agreement?
3. How is Evolution approaching the planned July 12 strike by its employees?
4. What measures is Evolution taking to ensure that all its offices operate to the highest standards and that there are no irregularities related to employee discrimination?