Italian lawmakers push regional law to curb agricultural labor exploitation after Amendolara tragedy

Following a deadly fire in Amendolara, Calabria, where migrant farm workers were burned alive after resisting exploitative overseers, Regional Councilor Elisabetta Barbuto (Five Star Movement) deposited a proposal titled “Interventi per contrastare il fenomeno del lavoro irregolare e dello sfruttamento dei lavoratori in agricoltura.” The draft seeks to create a list of compliant agricultural enterprises, grant them a 5 % advantage in regional and EU tenders, promote participation in the national Quality Agricultural Labour Network, and fund awareness campaigns through existing EU and national funds, without adding new regional budget costs.

The proposal echoes earlier attempts by Councilor Davide Tavernise and responds to calls for stronger enforcement against the “caporalato” system that has long plagued Southern Italy. Parallel reactions to workplace safety have emerged after a separate fatal accident at the Officina 2000 plant in Rosignano, where a worker died. Deputies Chiara Tenerini (Forza Italia) and union leaders demanded tighter inspections, better training, and greater responsibility across supply chains. Both incidents underscore rising political pressure in Italy to address illegal labour practices and improve occupational safety.

The combined outcry reflects a broader push for legislative and regulatory action to protect vulnerable workers and prevent further loss of life in the agricultural and industrial sectors.