The death of two Indians and why European farms have ‘slavery-like’ practices
From Spain to Poland, the European Union’s fruit and vegetable sector relies heavily on seasonal and migrant workers, many of whom are exploited.
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The death of a second Indian farm labourer in Italy within as many months has put the spotlight on reports of exploitative conditions faced by some migrant workers in Europe's fields.
The prosecutor in the province of Latina has opened a manslaughter case into the death of Dalvir Singh, a flower picker, who was found slumped in a field during extreme summer heat on August 16.
The investigation will assess whether the employer was following labour rules. Autopsy results are still pending.
The death comes two months after Satnam Singh died after a workplace accident severed his arm in June, and has reignited debate on migrant working conditions in Europe’s agricultural sector.
From Spain to Poland, the European Union’s fruit and vegetable sector relies heavily on seasonal and migrant workers to plant and harvest crops. Many are at risk of exploitation, despite rules to protect them, say campaigners.
So why do slavery-like practices still exist on Europe’s farms and what is the EU doing about it?
High-risk sector for labour abuse
Labour exploitation includes violations of working hours, health and safety, and housing conditions, which are all regulated by law.
There are an estimated 2.4 million seasonal and migrant workers operating in European agriculture – a high-risk sector for labour abuses – according to a June report by the University of Comillas in...
