Italian Authorities Rescue 33 Indian Workers from Exploitative Conditions on Verona Farms
Italian tax police announced a successful operation on Saturday that liberated 33 Indian farm workers from what they termed as "slave-like working conditions" in the northern province of Verona. The authorities also seized nearly €500,000 from two alleged gangmasters involved in the exploitation.
According to the police, the two Indian suspects lured their compatriots to Italy by promising seasonal work permits in exchange for payments of €17,000 each. Once in Italy, the workers were coerced into laboring seven days a week for up to 10-12 hours daily, earning a meager €4 per hour. The conditions were described by Italian authorities as akin to "slavery."
Further investigations revealed that some of the workers were additionally pressured to work without pay to settle an alleged €13,000 debt for a promised permanent work permit, which the perpetrators had no intention of providing.
The two accused individuals are currently under investigation for charges including enslavement and labor exploitation. Authorities have pledged to offer the rescued victims protective measures, job opportunities, and assistance in obtaining legal residency.
This rescue operation sheds light on the persistent issue of modern slavery within Italy, exacerbated by recent high-profile cases such as that of Satnam Singh, whose tragic death drew attention to the plight of undocumented Indian laborers in the agricultural sector. Singh, a 31-year-old laborer, bled to death after a workplace accident left him abandoned outside his residence.
A report by Moody’s in March underscored Italy's concerning prevalence of modern slavery incidents in Europe, documenting approximately 32,000 cases over a five-year period starting from 2018.
The Italian authorities continue to crack down on such exploitative practices, emphasizing the need for stringent enforcement and support mechanisms to protect vulnerable migrant workers from abuse and exploitation in various sectors across the country.
