Thousands of Indian farm labourers in Italy are demanding an end to what they describe as ‘slavery’ following the tragic death of Satnam Singh, a 31-year-old worker who lost his life due to brutal exploitation, Singh, who was working without legal papers, tragically had his arm severed by a machine, leading to his untimely demise, according to a report in AFP. The inhumane treatment continued as the farmer he worked for callously abandoned him by the roadside, along with his severed limb.
Gurmukh Singh, representing the Indian community in the Lazio region of central Italy, expressed outrage, stating that such exploitation is a daily reality for migrant workers like them and it must come to an end. The community’s peaceful protest, with children holding up signs demanding justice for Satnam Singh, highlighted the urgent need for reform.
“He was thrown out like a dog. There is exploitation every day, we suffer it every day, it must end now,” said Gurmukh Singh, head of the Indian community in the Lazio region of central Italy. “We come here to work, not to die,” he told AFP.
Legacy of Indian Migrant Workers
Indian migrant workers have been an integral part of the agricultural workforce in the Agro Pontino region for decades– since the mid-1980s, harvesting pumpkins, leeks, beans and tomatoes, and working on flower farms or in buffalo mozzarella production. However, Singh’s death has not only prompted investigations but also ignited a national conversation on addressing systemic abuses in the agriculture sector.
Voices of the Marginalized
Parambar Singh, another labourer, shared his harrowing experience of being denied medical assistance after a work-related injury due to lack of a contract. His plea for justice echoes the sentiments of many others who face similar exploitation and neglect on a daily basis. “Satnam died in one day, I die every day. Because I too am a labour victim,” Parambar Singh, whose eye was seriously hurt in a work accident, told AFP.
“My boss said he couldn’t take me to hospital because I didn’t have a contract,” said the 33-year-old, who has struggled to work since. “I have been waiting 10 months for justice,” he added.
The Plight of Agricultural Workers: Paid a pittance
As per the AFP report, the agriculture industry in Italy is facing significant challenges, with workers being paid an average of 20 euros ($21) a day for grueling shifts that can last up to 14 hours. The Osservatorio Placido Rizzotto, which monitors working conditions in the sector, highlighted the harsh reality faced by these laborers.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been focusing on reducing the number of undocumented migrants in Italy while simultaneously creating legal pathways for non-EU workers to address labor shortages. However, the Confagricoltura agribusiness association revealed that only 30 percent of workers granted visas actually make their way to Italy. This mismatch results in a severe shortage of laborers to meet the demands of farmers.
This month, Meloni said Italy’s visa system was being exploited by organised crime groups to smuggle in illegal migrants. Meloni condemned the inhumane treatment that led to the tragic death of a worker, emphasizing the need for justice and accountability. She said they were “inhumane acts that do not belong to the Italian people”.
Italy’s financial police identified nearly 60,000 undocumented workers from January 2023 to June 2024. But Italy’s largest trade union CGIL estimates that as many as 230,000 people – over a quarter of the country’s seasonal agricultural workers – do not have a contract.
While some are Italian, most are undocumented foreigners.
Female workers fare particularly badly, earning even less than their male counterparts and in some cases suffering sexual exploitation, it says.
(With AFP inputs)
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