📷 Image Credits: The Indian Express
In a recent development on July 13, Italian police freed 33 Indian farm labourers from slave-like working conditions in the northern Verona province. The labourers were subjected to grueling farm jobs, working seven days a week and 10-12 hours a day for just $4.37 per hour, with wages entirely deducted until they paid off their debts. The abusers, also Indian nationals, brought these migrants to Italy on seasonal work permits, charging each of them €17,000 and promising a better future. However, the reality was far from the promised dream.
The migrants found themselves trapped in a cycle of exploitation, being coerced to continue working for free to pay an additional sum of money for a permanent work permit that would never be granted to them. The abusers ultimately faced charges related to crimes of slavery and labour exploitation. The victims, on the other hand, will be provided with protection, work opportunities, and legal residency papers.
This incident sheds light on the prevalent issue of labour exploitation in Italy, exacerbated by the growing need to fill labour shortages through immigration, particularly in lower-paid job sectors. Despite having a migrant work visa system in place, cases of fraud and labor law violations are still prevalent in the country.
The tragic death of an Indian fruit picker in June, whose arm was severed by machinery, further underscores the dangers faced by migrant workers in Italy. The owner of the agriculture company, Antonello Lovato, was arrested on suspicion of homicide after abandoning the injured worker without medical assistance. This appalling incident has sparked outrage and calls for stricter measures against gangmastering, a form of violent exploitation of migrant farm labourers.
The plight of these Indian farm labourers highlights the need for stronger regulations and enforcement mechanisms to protect vulnerable workers from such exploitative practices. As countries across the globe grapple with issues of labour rights and migrant worker exploitation, cases like these serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for accountability and justice in ensuring fair and humane working conditions for all.
