Italian police announced on Saturday the rescue of 33 Indian farm laborers from severe exploitation in the northern Verona province, alongside the seizure of nearly half a million euros ($545,300) from their alleged abusers.
The operation comes amid heightened scrutiny over labor practices in Italy, intensified by a tragic incident in June where an Indian fruit picker died in a machinery accident.
According to police, the alleged gangmasters, also Indian nationals, facilitated the entry of fellow countrymen into Italy on seasonal work permits, Reuters reported. Each worker was charged 17,000 euros upfront under the promise of better prospects. Upon arrival, they were employed on farms, forced to work seven days a week, enduring 10-12 hour shifts for a mere 4 euros per hour. This wage was entirely withheld from them until they settled their entire debt, police described the situation as akin to "slavery".
In a particularly egregious scheme, some workers were compelled to continue working without pay to purportedly cover an additional 13,000 euros for a permanent work permit that was unlikely to materialize, the police statement revealed.
The accused individuals face charges related to slavery and labor exploitation. Meanwhile, the rescued workers will receive protection, employment opportunities, and legal residency status, police assured.
Italy, like other European countries, grapples with labor shortages often met through immigration, particularly in lower-paid sectors, amid a migrant work visa system susceptible to fraud. The nation also contends with widespread labor law violations; as per 2021 data from the national statistics office Istat, approximately 11% of Italian workers were employed illegally, with rates soaring to over 23% in agriculture.
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