The Comicon it is permanently one of the main fairs in the shadow of Vesuvius. Also for the 2024 edition, according to the first feedback, both the public success and the offer of visual art and entertainment were great for the event underway in Fuorigrotta since yesterday. But there is also a shadow that concerns workers. It was detected by the Labor Inspectorate, Metropolitan Area of Naples (Iam), with the Labor Protection Group based on the Interregional Labor Directorate South.
As part of the special programs of 24 April 2024, over 100 inspectors and carabinieri from the protection group carried out a maxi check inside the Mostra d’Oltremare, while the preparation of the pavilions, stands and external areas in view of the event which will end on April 28th. A total of 105 companies were inspected, 380 job positions verified by the agents. Based on the investigations conducted, 83 illegal workers were identified, i.e. without any form of protection.
Fines amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros (221 thousand, according to the IAM’s first estimates) and dozens of business activities suspended (39). Not only were the companies that did not have the necessary paperwork in order for their workers sanctioned, but also the Comicon organization itself.
The inspection
The monitoring operations of the fair, of international importance, dedicated to comics and more generally to the world of entertainment, had already begun in the morning the day before yesterday, with inspections, mapping, identification of access gates and video recordings. This is the method chosen by the inspectors to make the checks profitable, given the large size of the area and the number of people present. The investigations conducted concerned the correct application of labor regulations and compliance with health and safety regulations. The result of the operation led to 22 suspension measures of entrepreneurial activities. There has also been no shortage of prescriptions for violations of safety regulations: so far there are 39.
The related industry
The Comicon brings a decidedly significant impact on the avenue Kennedy and surroundings. Full hotels on the days of the event, restaurants and shops taken by storm. And so it was also yesterday, on the inauguration days of the festival. Also decidedly significant, however, is the amount of fines raised yesterday, during the checks carried out by the military personnel of the protection group and Iam.
The extent of the sanctions issued clearly emerges from the first estimates provided by the same agents who carried out the yesterday’s blitz among the pavilions of the Mostra d’Oltremare. As regards the administrative sanctions, according to an initial comparison, they amount to approximately 221 thousand euros. There is no shortage of criminal violations either: if complied with, they correspond to an amount of approximately 66,466 euros. Giuseppe Cantisanodirector of the Iam of Naples, expresses great satisfaction with the operation carried out.
The tests
For the checks carried out in Fuorigrotta «numerous inspectors were involved, for an operation which, moreover, was possible to carry out with satisfactory results for the protection of workers, also thanks to the large number of labor inspectors who saw more than double the inspectorate’s staff.” The controls at Comicon 2024, which this year too boasts enormously important guests such as Milo Manara, Elodie, the musician Hitoshi Sakimoto, the mangaka Shun Umezawa and David Loyd from Marvel, and shine, in perspective, an important spotlight on all the fairs and events organized in the city. And, of course, on compliance with the laws and related rules regarding the protection of workers’ rights.
