Italy: Asylum seekers exploited as field laborers, three arrests

Rome: Italian authorities have arrested three Pakistani nationals accused of exploiting low-wage agricultural laborers who were recruited among the asylum seekers in the region of Marche.

Carabinieri have arrested three individuals of Pakistani origin accused of exploiting low-wage laborers in the agricultural sector across the provinces of Ancona, Macerata, and Pesaro-Urbino. The workers were recruited among asylum seekers in region including directly at shelter facilities housing asylum seekers, according to police.

An extensive investigation by the Carabinieri revealed that field laborers were paid an hourly rate of approximately €5 – €6 for a working day of ten to twelve hours, without any respect and compliance with health and safety regulations at work. The laborers were lodged in makeshift premises.

The three Pakistani nationals, who resided in the municipalities of Curpramontana and Cingoli, in the province of Ancona, ended up under house arrest for aiding and abetting illegal intermediation of labor and the exploitation of numerous citizens from non-EU countries.

These precautionary measures were implemented following a request from the District Attorney’s office and under the guidance of the Preliminary Investigations Judge (GIP) in Ancona. The Carabinieri worked in collaboration with the labor inspectorate sections (NIL) of Pesaro-Urbino, Ancona, and Macerata, as well as the provincial commands of the Carabinieri in Ancona and Macerata.

The investigation began in June 2021, following a notification by the unit in Mondavio (Pesaro-Urbino) that had checked a van on the street: the eight people on board said they had gone to the local fields to work as agricultural laborers.

Following this incident, what emerged was the criminal partnership that exploited the state of need of laborers from Pakistan and Bangladesh to recruit them for third parties and exploit them; migrants needed to work to send money home to families or they needed a work contract in order to have their residence permit renewed.

The investigation has revealed that 40 non-European citizens, mostly asylum-seekers, were employed under exploitative conditions.