Agricultural labor exploitation in Alba

In October 2026, Caritas of Alba reported record labor violations during the grape harvest in the Langhe and Roero regions. The organization identified severe injustices affecting approximately 6,000 workers, including undeclared work, wages below minimum standards, and excessive hours. Reports also highlighted poor living conditions, such as makeshift settlements and workers being charged up to 300 euros per month for a bed.

Don Degiorgis, director of Caritas, reported receiving indirect threats from ‘caporali’ (labor brokers) after attempting to denounce these conditions. In response to these findings, approximately 1,200 people gathered in Alba for a demonstration organized by Caritas, trade unions, and local associations to protest against ‘caporalato’—the illegal exploitation of agricultural workers.

During the protest, Bishop Marco Brunetti stated that ‘the person comes before profit’ and called for structural interventions regarding housing and residency permits. Trade unions, including CGIL, CISL, and UIL, joined the mobilization, with some proposing an institutional table to combat the systemic emergency. The demonstration saw brief moments of tension when police intervened to prevent confrontations with far-right protesters.