A year ago in Latina Satnam Singh died, a victim of gangmastering

A year ago, in the countryside of Latina, Satnam Singh bled to death. It was June 19, 2024 when the young Indian laborer, exploited in the Agro Pontino without a contract, was brutally abandoned in front of his house without an arm, to bleed to death, because his employer did not want to risk being reported to the hospital. His death shook consciences. Thousands of people took to the streets to say no to gangmastering. In the emotional wave, even the government led by Giorgia Meloni promised a tough fight against exploitation in the fields.

A little over two months ago, on April 1st, the trial against Antonello Lovato, the agricultural entrepreneur for whom Satnam worked illegally, accused of voluntary homicide, opened in Latina. In the meantime, Soni, the young Indian's wife, thanks to a special permit, found hospitality in a shelter in Latina. Three of the Indian boys who worked illegally with him also obtained permits for special cases and today they are workers for other companies, this time finally legal.

In order not to forget, in order not to turn off the spotlight on the 200 thousand irregular workers who are still exploited in the Italian countryside, this morning at 11 the Prefecture of Latina is hosting a meeting to examine the initiatives for the prevention and fight against gangmastering throughout the province. The general secretaries of Flai-Cgil, Fai-Cisl and Uila-Uil are participating in the meeting, as well as the provincial heads of Inps, Inail, the Labor Inspectorate, the ASL, the provincial command of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza.

"It is tragic to note that one year after the murder of Satnam Singh, working conditions in agriculture in the Agro Pontino and in other areas where the incidence of exploitation and gangmastering is high have not substantially changed - says Giovanni Mininni, general secretary of Flai-Cgil - apart from a few spot inspection operations in the Italian countryside, very theatrical, and some announcements on the repression front introduced with the Agriculture decree last summer, almost all the problems remain on the table since none of the expected rules have been implemented, and even on social conditionality we are groping in the dark".

Immediately after the Satnam tragedy, the government had ordered some raids: «In three days - Mininni recalls - a third of the agricultural companies that were usually checked in a year were inspected. The 2024 data from the Labor Inspectorate then speak of a doubling of inspections. But we have strong doubts about these data, without considering that we are still talking about a rate of inspected companies of 2%. A negligible amount».