Italian law enforcement saves Indian from farm slavery
Date
7/18/2024 8:43:08 AM
(MENAFN) Italian authorities have conducted a rescue operation freeing 33 Indian migrants from exploitative conditions in Verona, northern Italy, seizing approximately USD545,000 from their alleged captors, who are also Indian nationals, according to a report by Reuters on Saturday.
The migrants had initially arrived in Italy on seasonal work permits, enticed by promises of a better life after paying €17,000 each (USD18,500). Instead, they found themselves trapped in labor exploitation, forced to work grueling 12-hour days for meager wages of around four dollars an hour until they could repay their debts. Authorities are now investigating their employers for potential charges of 'enslavement' and 'labor exploitation.'
In a distressing twist, some of the migrants were coerced into working without pay under the false promise of securing a permanent work permit for an additional EUR13,000 euros (just over USD14,000), an opportunity they were unlikely to ever attain. Italian police have ensured that the rescued workers will receive protection and legal residency status.
The rescue operation follows the tragic death of Satnam Singh, a 31-year-old farm laborer from Punjab, India, whose arm was severed by machinery, allegedly resulting from neglect. This incident sparked outrage and prompted demonstrations by an Italian labor organization demanding justice.
Satnam Singh had been residing in the Latina province, approximately 40 miles from Rome, an area heavily populated by Indian daily-wage laborers predominantly from Punjab.
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