The case of Satnam Singh, the Indian laborer who died last June 19 following a work-related accident in the Agro Pontino area, which led to the arrest of the employer for failure to provide assistance – therefore with the hypothesis of wilful homicide – has done nothing but open a Pandora’s box known to many, but which was operating under the radar. Yes, because an order from the judge for preliminary investigations of the Court of Asti has just brought to light another story of violence and abuse once morest laborers in the Langhe area. Two men, one Moroccan and the other Macedonian, have been placed under house arrest on charges of crimes such as illicit intermediation, exploitation of labor and other violations of the regulations relating to the residence of foreigners on national territory. This is reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano, which also reports the existence of a third person – of Albanian origin – involved in the investigation, who has been temporarily banned from practicing professional activities. But let’s proceed in order.
The farm workers, many of whom were of African origin, were busy working in the vineyards in the Langhe area and, according to the prosecution, were allegedly abused by the three suspects. The investigations by the Cuneo Flying Squad began last year, when, following several reports sent by associations that deal with the protection of human and workers’ rights, evidence emerged of repeated exploitation of the farm workers who were involved in the cultivation of the Piedmont countryside. Not just exploitation, unfortunately. But also violent physical attacks aimed at anyone who complained regarding the unsustainable working conditions. What was set up by the three suspects would essentially be a real system of trampling on human rights: in fact, the police found 19 migrants in a building owned by the Macedonian who were living crowded together in terrible hygiene conditions, and were also forced to pay rent that was deducted directly from their wages.
It is not even an isolated case in the Langhe area, given that last March, as the newspaper reports, 9 people were investigated following “a widespread picture of labor exploitation.” And even the death of the Indian laborer in the Lazio countryside was not unique. Last May 26, therefore even before Satnam Singh, another 38-year-old Indian with the same surname – Rajwinder Sidhu Singh – lost his life while working on the land in the province of Taranto. Here too, his employer, Giovanni Giannico, is being investigated for manslaughter and gangmastering. He arrived at the emergency room, but it was already too late. And the continuation of the investigation will reveal the reason for the fatal delay.
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2024-07-11 07:09:39
