Many migrant farmworkers in the Matera region in Italy suffer from diseases linked to poor working and living conditions, and lack sufficient access to public healthcare, Doctors Without Borders says in a new report.
Britain likes to pride itself on high standards of health and safety in the workplace. But cuts to the national Health and Safety Executive (HSE) budget and legislation surrounding regulations mean the lowest paid and most precariously employed are among those most at risk, and often that means migrants.
Carabinieri military police in 2019 carried out a total of 263 investigations against the gangmaster system in Italy, Labor Minister Nunzia Catalfo said this week. The Italian government is expected to approve a three-year plan to fight the phenomenon by the end of January.
Italian authorities say they have dismantled a criminal ring exploiting migrant farm workers in the area of Gioia Tauro, in the southern region of Calabria. The migrants were forced to work for up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week, and were paid between two and three euros per hour, investigators said.
The Arab region comprising 18 countries hosts 15% of all migrants and refugees worldwide; it is currently seeing "unprecedented levels of migration." Despite these high levels, the majority of migrants and refugees stay within the region. To date, Europe has received only 14% of all refugees originating from Arab countries.
Germany desperately needs medical professionals, and many in the Western Balkans are just as keen on a way out of their home countries. Highly skilled migrants are rushing westwards in a seemingly unstoppable wave.
Germany is desperately in need of nurses, IT experts and other skilled workers — and is looking outside the EU to recruit them. The government and business leaders have now agreed a plan to make the process easier.
The H&M Group, known in many parts of the world for its fast-fashion clothing, has pledged to promote the ethical recruitment and protection of migrant workers in global supply chains. The multinational company last week signed a memorandum of understanding with UN agency International Organization for Migration (IOM).
There were 530,000 non-EU citizens in Italy without a valid stay permit in late 2018, according to the organization Assindatcolf. That included up to 200,000 domestic workers, such as caregivers for the elderly and children and cleaners.
Migrant workers, mostly from Africa, were being exploited by a shoe company in Empoli, according to police. They reportedly had to work up to 10 hours a day and were paid as little as 1.28 euros per hour.
The Italian government reports that almost 48,000 foreigners asked for a seasonal work permit so far this year. There are only 18,000 posts available.
Italian labor union CGIL has filed a lawsuit with 50 migrants. They want the state to refund the migrants because they had to pay an additional tax when applying for a residency permit.