Bologna, 23 June 2024 – We need more control over companiesand, they are needed more labor inspectorsand yes to a different management of the migratory phenomenon, because a shameful case like that of Satnam Singhthe Indian laborer who died in Latina after being abandoned with his arm amputated, will never happen again”.
Foreign workers at the demonstration in Latina
Simone Gamberini, president of the national Legacoop (10,446 member companies and a production value of 86 billion) intervenes on the topic of “legality” in agricultural production. And it highlights how the issue of prices affects a system that can lead to distortions.
What do you mean by price-exploitation ratio?
“It is necessary to set up a system of control over the prices of agricultural products to prevent workers from being exploited to bring products to the market below cost. A path that puts healthy businesses that respect the rules in difficulty. The right path is that indicated in the recent Agriculture Decree: strengthening the effectiveness of the directive on unfair practices by determining the average production price also thanks to the support of Ismea”.
What is the Legacoop world doing for the legality of production?
“We have entered into a series of agreements, on a voluntary basis, with our suppliers and put products on sale, as for example we read in Coop supermarkets, which are “good but fair”. To date, Coop has involved 832 suppliers who they have signed protocols both on production methods and on collection and personnel management. These are ethical codes that allow us to verify what actually happens in the company. And in a year we carry out around 400 checks. But we are talking about 832 suppliers an audience that for fruit and vegetables alone includes over 60 thousand companies in Italy, the controls of private individuals are not combined with those of the State, there is a risk of not going anywhere. And then, as mentioned, the low prices resulting from illegality distort the market “.
So are you in favor of the doubling of inspectors proposed by the government?
“Absolutely yes, because the controls are too few and they are few because there are no inspectors. Their number must be increased, but even if they doubled tomorrow it’s not as if the controls would magically double, because time is also needed for their training. And then we need an overall direction that starts from a more careful control of the territory by the State and a different management of the migration phenomenon in the province of Latina, in the summer about 20 thousand seasonal workers arrive and live somewhere, often in less than dignified conditions the case that no one turned the other way and pretended not to see. Perhaps, reflecting on regularization for those in Italy and taking charge of those who report exploitation could be a way to go.”
Every year, for decades, the phenomenon of illegal work has been repeated which still leads to inhumane conditions, if not death. Why has no government, of any colour, managed to tackle the problem?
“Because every time we touch on the topic of immigration we clash with citizens’ different sensitivities and we fear the electoral impact. We must create a real strategy for managing the migratory process. From a cultural point of view we must take a step forward, against all demagoguery. Immigration must no longer be seen as a problem, but as an opportunity which our country, given the demographic trend and employment needs, cannot ignore”.
How do you get out of it?
“We believe that a national direction and planning are needed, also given the demographic decline, which our cooperatives are already suffering from, which we are moving towards. As a cooperative world they have made training agreements abroad and then hired them in Italy. We also believe that this is a viable path.”
Agrilovato, the company where Satnam Singh worked, is a cooperative that has requested a small share of Agrinsieme. Are you associated with Legacoop?
“It is a cooperative, but it is not associated with either Agrinsieme or Legacoop. This, if anything, raises another issue.”
Which?
“That of false cooperatives. For years we have been asking for checks on cooperatives not associated with the most representative centers and we are calling for a law that combats the phenomenon of false cooperatives and false businesses. For now in vain”.
