Six people residents in the provinces of Naples and Caserta were arrested for gangmaster towards over 60 immigrants, forced to work in the fields up to 16 hours a day. Arrangements have been made for the suspects precautionary measures on charges of illicit intermediation e exploitation of labor in agriculture.
Inhumane working conditions
The facts date back to the period inclusive between January and June 2023. The investigations, conducted by the soldiers of the Operations Department of the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Work, revealed the inhuman conditions in which more than 60 immigrants, many of whom without residence permits, were forced to work.
They were transported to the fields in dilapidated vehicles, in numbers well beyond the limit allowed by the vehicle for safe transport. They travelled sitting on overturned plastic cratesamong the petrol cans used to refuel the vehicle.
The entire vehicle in which the laborers were travelling
In the workplaces, without suitable personal protective equipment, there were no rooms used for consuming meals. Furthermore, in case of bad weather the laborers were forced to use plastic bags to shelter from the rain.
The poor pay
According to what emerged from the investigative activity, the laborers were subjected to repeated torture violations of working time regulations and periods of rest and illness.
They worked from a minimum of 11 hours per day up to a maximum of 16 hourswith an hourly wage of less than 2 euros.
And again: during the hours of work in the fields they constantly came monitored and often threatened, in some cases even death. Abuses from which they could not escape due to the difficult economic conditions in which they lived.
Precautionary measures for gangmastering
The Carabinieri, on the orders of the investigating judge of Naples, executed precautionary measures for six peopleof whom three are in prison and the remaining in prison House arrest.
There is also a seventh suspect who however has not yet been traced, as he is abroad. Over him hangs theobligation to report to the judicial police.
Finally, a preventive seizure decree was also executed, in order to confiscate 200 thousand euros to the agricultural company owned by two of the suspects.
Photo source: ANSA
