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Italian police have rescued 33 Indian farm workers from slave-like conditions in the northern province of Verona, seizing nearly 5 lakh euros from their alleged exploiters. The operation highlights ongoing issues with labour exploitation in Italy, particularly affecting migrant workers.
According to police reports, traffickers bring workers to Italy on seasonal work permits, charging each worker 17,000 euros with false promises of a better future. However, they ended up working 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week, for just 4 euros per hour, which was entirely taken to settle their debts.
“The migrants’ treatment can only be described as slavery,” stated the police, revealing that some workers were coerced into working for free to pay an additional 13,000 euros for a permanent work permit that was never intended to be granted.
The accused have been charged with crimes related to slavery and labour exploitation. Meanwhile, the rescued workers will receive protection, employment opportunities, and legal residency papers.
This case follows a tragic incident in June where an Indian fruit picker died after his arm was severed by machinery, bringing labour exploitation in Italy’s agricultural sector into the spotlight.
Italy, like many European countries, faces growing labour shortages often filled by immigrants, particularly in lower-paid sectors. However, the country’s migrant work visa system has been vulnerable to fraud. According to 2021 data from Italy’s national statistics office Istat, approximately 11% of Italian workers were employed illegally, with this figure rising to over 23% in the agricultural sector.
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