Three workers at Evolution, a Georgian online gaming technology company, in Tbilisi, have gone on a hunger strike in protest of their low wages and unfavorable working conditions.

Tamar Ansian, Makhare Patashuri, and Luka Nadiradze, the workers, took up the extreme form of protest on August 12, as reported by JAMNews, a news source that covers the Caucasus region of Eastern Europe. The three have said that they won't eat until the striking employees' demands are satisfied.

On July 12, around 4,000 Evolution Georgia workers, or about half of the staff, went on strike. With a focus on live casino streaming, Evolution is a B2B supplier of casino software. A large number of the irate employees are croupiers or game presenters who run the games from behind television cameras in studios at the offices in Tbilisi.

Unfavorable Situations

Workers complain about low pay and unfavorable working conditions, according to Evo Union, the trade union that led the walkout. Some staff have reported developing serious skin issues, infections, and allergies as a result of mosquito infestations and unclean, filthy tables. The union claims that employees are required to remain upright for extended periods of time on uncomfortable chairs with harsh lights and little air conditioning.

According to Evolution Georgia's remuneration structure, a full-time game presenter can make up to US$329 for day shifts and US$450 for night shifts per month. But workers claim that net hourly wages actually come in at roughly US$1 for dealers, and $1.8 for game presenters.

These workers are eligible for additional monthly incentives ranging from US$110 to US$145; however, bonuses are frequently forfeited in the event that they leave work early due to illness, which is said to occur frequently as a result of the long hours and unhygienic working conditions. In Tbilisi, the average hourly pay is approximately $5.50.

The release of Facebook messages between Evolution managers, in which certain employees were openly made fun of in a racist and sexist way, seems to have been the last straw for the staff.

Enumeration of Requests

In addition to wage increases and yearly inflation adjustments, the union is demanding greater health benefits, a safer working environment, more breaks throughout shifts, and the right to menstrual leave. It also requests that Evolution provide a feature that lets players leave tips for dealers.

In an attempt to defuse the situation, Evolution has labeled the strike as "illegal" and threatened to "make operational adjustments, including larger-scale layoffs of employees to reduce our presence in Georgia."

“We have spent six years investing in the country, offering first-time employment to many Georgians, and the situation is highly regrettable both for Evolution as well as for the many working employees who will be affected by these actions,” the company said in an August 1 Facebook post.