Dozens of Indian workers freed from 'slavery' in Italy

Dozens of Indian farm laborers have been rescued from slave-like conditions in northern Italy, according to police reports. These 33 workers were enticed to Italy with promises of good jobs and a better future by two fellow Indian nationals. However, upon arrival, they were forced to work over 10 hours a day, seven days a week, for meager wages that were used to pay off debts to their exploiters. The two men responsible for this exploitation have been arrested and were found with approximately $545,300.

The exploitation of farm workers, both Italian and migrant, is a well-known issue in Italy. Thousands of people work in fields, vineyards, and greenhouses across the country, often without contracts and in hazardous conditions. Just last month, a worker lost his arm in an accident and was left on the side of the road. His employer is now under investigation for criminal negligence and manslaughter.

The 33 men rescued in the Province of Verona had paid around €17,000 each for seasonal work permits and jobs. To raise these funds, some pawned their family assets, while others borrowed money from their employers. Despite their efforts, they were only paid €4 per hour for their 10 to 12-hour workdays, with this amount going towards settling their debts. Their passports were confiscated upon arrival, and they were prohibited from leaving their dilapidated apartments.

Every morning, the workers were transported in vehicles covered in tarpaulin, hiding among boxes of vegetables until they reached the Verona countryside for work. Searches of their apartments revealed that they were forced to live in precarious and degrading conditions, violating health and hygiene regulations.

The rescued workers have now received their passports back and are being assisted by social services and a migration organization to relocate to safer housing and working conditions. The two alleged gangmasters are facing charges related to exploitation and slavery.

Undocumented laborers in Italy are often subjected to a system known as 'caporalato,' where middlemen illegally hire laborers who are then forced to work for very low wages. Even workers with regular papers are often paid well below the legal wage. In 2018, almost a quarter of the agricultural workforce in Italy was employed under this method, according to a study by the Italian National Institute of Statistics. This practice also affects workers in the service industry and building sectors.

The 'caporalato' system was outlawed in Italy in 2016 after an Italian woman died of a heart attack following 12-hour shifts picking and sorting grapes for which she was paid only €27 a day. Despite the ban, the exploitation of laborers continues to be a significant issue in Italy.