Tragic Death Exposes Exploitation of Farm Workers in Italy
An investigation is currently underway in Italy following a horrific incident that led to the death of an Indian farm labourer, highlighting the ongoing issue of worker exploitation in the country.
The 31-year-old man, identified as Satnam Singh, was abandoned by his gangmasters on the street with his severed arm, instead of being immediately taken to the hospital for treatment. This tragic incident took place in the Latina area south of Rome in the Lazio region.
Despite efforts to transport Singh to Rome’s San Camillo hospital via air ambulance and multiple surgeries, the delay in receiving medical attention proved fatal and he passed away on Wednesday morning.
The circumstances surrounding Singh’s death have sparked an investigation into negligence and manslaughter by the Latina prosecutor’s office. Reports suggest that the owner of the company where Singh was employed is also under investigation.
Singh and his wife had immigrated to Italy a couple of years ago and were working in the fields around Latina without a regular contract. This tragic incident has shed light on the exploitation of migrant workers in the agricultural sector, particularly in the southern regions of Italy.
The incident has prompted political figures and trade unions to demand government intervention to address the rampant exploitation of workers in the country. Opposition politicians, including Arturo Scotto from the centre-left Partito Democratico, have condemned the deplorable conditions faced by labourers.
Hardeep Kaur, general secretary of the FLAI-CGIL trade union in Frosinone Latina, also spoke out against the exploitation, emphasizing the need to protect workers’ rights and dignity.
The Lazio Region has pledged to cover Singh’s funeral expenses and will participate as a civil party in any legal proceedings that may arise from this tragic event.
