Labor exploitation reported in Italy's Langhe wine region

In the Langhe region of Italy, a UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for Barolo wine, workers are reporting systemic labor exploitation known as 'caporalato'. Migrant laborers, many from Africa, describe working 12 to 13 hour days for less than 800 euros per month, with grape harvests sometimes paid at only five euros per hour.

Reports from Caritas characterize the issue as structural rather than episodic. The exploitation involves organized networks of intermediaries who manage housing, transport, and labor distribution, often resulting in conditions described as a form of slavery. Issues include undeclared work, falsified payslips, sub-minimum wages, and overcrowded living conditions.