33 Indian farm workers freed from ‘slavery’ in Italy, 2 charged
Rome, July 13
The Italian authorities on Saturday said they had freed 33 Indian farm labourers from slave-like working conditions in the northern Verona province and seized almost half a million euros ($5,45,300) from their two alleged abusers.
Labour exploitation is in the spotlight in Italy following an accident in June in which Punjabi fruit picker Satnam Singh died after his arm was severed by machinery. Satnam was abandoned by his employer after a strawberry wrapping machine severed his arm in Lazio, near Rome.
He died in a hospital in Rome two days later after being airlifted.
In the latest case, the police said the alleged ‘gang-masters’, also from India, brought fellow nationals to Italy on seasonal work permits, asking them to pay 17,000 euros each and promising them a better future.
The migrants were given farm jobs, working seven days a week and 10-12 hours a day for just four euros per hour, which was entirely docked from them until they settled all their debts, the police said, describing the migrants’ treatment as “slavery”.
Some were asked to continue working for free to pay an additional 13,000 euros for a permanent work permit “which, in reality, would have never been given to them,” the police statement said.
The alleged abusers were charged with crimes connected to slavery and labour exploitation, while the victims would be offered work opportunities and legal residency papers, the police said.
Like other European nations, Italy has growing labour shortages often filled via immigration and has a migrant work visa system that has faced cases of fraud. — Reuters
Punjabi labourer’s death sparked protests
- In June, Punjabi worker Satnam Singh’s arm was chopped off by a machine on a farm & his employers dumped him. He died in a hospital in Rome
- Satnam was one of thousands of Indians working illegally on farms in Italy
- His death triggered protests in Italy with thousands of Indian farm labourers seeking an end to ‘slavery’
