Thousands of Indian farm laborers in Italy are calling for an end to what they describe as “slavery” following the tragic death of one of their own. Satnam Singh, a 31-year-old worker without legal documents, died after his arm was severed by a machine. Instead of seeking help, the farmer he worked for abandoned him by the roadside along with his severed limb.
Gurmukh Singh, a leader of the Indian community in the Lazio region, expressed outrage over the incident. “He was thrown out like a dog. There is exploitation every day, we suffer it every day, it must end now,” he said. “We come here to work, not to die.”
In Latina, a city south of Rome, children held signs demanding “Justice for Satnam Singh” as a procession of farm workers marched through the streets. The area is home to tens of thousands of Indian migrants who have been working there since the 1980s, harvesting crops and working in various agricultural sectors.
Singh’s death has prompted an investigation and ignited a broader conversation about the widespread abuse of undocumented workers in Italy’s agriculture sector. Many workers are subjected to harsh conditions and exploitation by farmers or gangmasters.
Parambar Singh, another farm worker, shared his own harrowing experience. After a serious eye injury on the job, his employer refused to take him to the hospital because he lacked a contract. “Satnam died in one day, I die every day,” he said, highlighting the ongoing struggle faced by many workers.
The average pay for these workers is around 20 euros ($21) for up to 14 hours of labor, according to the Osservatorio Placido Rizzotto, which monitors working conditions in agriculture.
Italy’s far-right Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, has tried to reduce the number of undocumented migrants while increasing legal pathways for non-EU workers to address labor shortages.
However, only about 30% of workers were granted visas to travel to Italy, leaving a significant gap in the labor force. Meloni condemned the circumstances of Singh’s death as “inhumane acts that do not belong to the Italian people” and called for severe punishment for those responsible.
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From January 2023 to June 2024, Italy’s financial police identified nearly 60,000 undocumented workers. However, the country’s largest trade union, CGIL, estimates that over a quarter of Italy’s seasonal agricultural workers, around 230,000 people, lack proper contracts. Most of these are undocumented foreigners, although some are Italian.
Female workers face particularly harsh conditions, often earning less than their male counterparts and sometimes suffering sexual exploitation.
Kaur Akveer, a 37-year-old worker, marched with a group of women, all wearing colorful saris, and demanded regular job contracts. “We all need regular job contracts, not to be trapped in this slavery,” she said. “Satnam was like my brother. He must be the last Indian to die.”
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