Members of the Indian group in Italy protest in Latina, about 60 km (37 miles) south of Rome, on June 22, 2024, calling for justice for Satnam Singh, an Indian employee who bled to loss of life after his arm bought caught in a nylon wrapping machine and was torn off. Labor exploitation is below scrutiny in Italy following the incident. | Photograph credit score: AP
Italian police mentioned on July 13 that they had freed 33 Indian farm staff from slave-like working situations within the northern province of Verona and seized almost 500,000 euros (about 4.5 million rupees) from their two alleged abusers.
Labour exploitation is below scrutiny in Italy following an accident in June by which an Indian fruit picker died after his arm was severed by equipment.
Within the newest case, police mentioned the alleged gang leaders, additionally from India, introduced their compatriots to Italy on seasonal work permits, asking them to pay 17,000 euros (about Rs 15 lakh) every and promising them a greater future.
The migrants got agricultural jobs, working seven days every week and 10 to 12 hours a day for simply 4 euros (about 360 rupees) an hour, which was deducted fully till they cleared all their money owed, police mentioned, describing the therapy of the migrants as “slavery.”
Some had been requested to proceed working at no cost to pay a further 13,000 euros (about Rs 12 lakh) for a everlasting work allow “which, in actuality, would by no means have been granted to them,” the police assertion mentioned.
The alleged abusers have been charged with crimes associated to slavery and labor exploitation, whereas the victims will probably be supplied safety, job alternatives and authorized residency paperwork, police mentioned.
Like different European nations, Italy faces a rising labor scarcity that’s typically stuffed by immigration, significantly in lower-paying jobs, and has a system of immigrant work visas that has confronted fraud instances.
The nation additionally has an issue with labour regulation violations. In response to 2021 information from the nationwide statistics institute Istat, round 11% of Italian staff had been illegally employed, a determine that rises to over 23% within the agricultural sector.
