Amendolara Massacre Sparks Calls for Action on Illegal Labor in Southern Italy

A brutal attack on migrant farm workers in Amendolara, Calabria left dozens dead and prompted regional politicians, including Elly Schlein, to describe the scene as “dramatic and devastating.” The tragedy has been framed as a symptom of Italy’s entrenched illegal labor and caporalato networks, especially in the South.

Data from the CGIA study cited by the Italian Labour Inspection Authority show that irregular work heavily concentrates in the Mezzogiorno, with Puglia fourth nationally at a 13.1% irregularity rate and Basilicata sixth at 12.3%. Agriculture ranks second among sectors most affected, after domestic care services. The report also warns of a “digital caporalato,” where algorithms control workers’ access to jobs. Politicians urge the regional council to implement the 2016 anti‑caporalato law and the 2018 regional decree, strengthen the anti‑caporalato board, and improve safe transport, housing and services for agricultural labourers.