Bari reports highest workplace injury rates in Puglia

The province of Bari recorded 6,968 workplace injuries during the first eight months of 2026, the highest figure in the Puglia region. According to an Inail dossier, Bari accounts for over one-third of the 19,042 total reported injuries in the region, representing a 4.95% increase compared to the same period last year.

Key trends in the regional data include a 10.03% rise in commuting accidents and a 10.89% increase in injuries reported by female workers. The healthcare and social assistance sectors reported 1,762 cases, followed by agriculture with 1,444. While total injuries in Puglia decreased by 6.06% compared to 2025, 31 fatal accidents were recorded, including six in the construction sector.

Labor unions have expressed concern regarding these safety figures and broader economic challenges in the Bari and Barletta-Andria-Trani (Bat) provinces. Cisl officials noted that 430,000 people in these areas are currently inactive despite being able to work, and one in five workers is classified as a working poor due to the high cost of living. Unions are calling for increased safety prevention, stricter inspections, and strategic interventions to attract investment and stabilize the labor market.