Vaccarizzo Albanese hosts debate on labor exploitation and migrant rights

The Festival delle Migrazioni held a session in Vaccarizzo Albanese titled ‘The aftermath of Amendolara: which policies to combat caporalato?’. The event focused on addressing labor exploitation and the evolving nature of illegal recruitment practices.

Participants, including representatives from CGIL Calabria and the Don Vincenzo Matrangolo Association, discussed how exploitation has transitioned from physical recruitment sites to informal networks and digital tools. Speakers emphasized that the phenomenon is driven by an ‘economic and criminal war’ fueled by a lack of rights and citizenship.

Local officials, including Vice Mayor Giuseppe Borrelli, argued that combating exploitation requires more than just repressive measures. The debate highlighted the need for structural policies involving housing, social security, and inclusion to prevent economic vulnerability from turning into blackmail. The goal is to ensure that work, housing, and security become standard public policy rights rather than episodic concessions.