Italy announces nationwide farm inspections after migrant worker deaths

Italy will launch a nationwide campaign of additional inspections in the agricultural sector throughout the summer in response to the deaths of four migrant farm laborers in Amendolara. Labor Minister Marina Calderone announced the initiative from Reggio Calabria after a meeting on the issue. The inspections will begin in mid-June, with Calderone stressing the importance of synergy between all authorities involved in labor oversight. The government's move comes just before a planned demonstration in Amendolara by the Flai and Cgil unions, under the slogan "Never again." National union leaders and members of the Democratic Party are expected to attend. Unions are pressing the government to strengthen inspectorate staff. Calderone stated that the number of labor inspectors and Carabinieri specializing in labor protection has increased, operating in close coordination with the inspectorate. She also urged caution against unfairly targeting honest agricultural entrepreneurs, asserting that criminal acts will be countered with all available tools. Meanwhile, the investigation into the deaths continues with autopsies performed on the four victims: Waseem Khan, Amin Fazal Khogjani, Ullah Ismat Qiemi, and Safi Iayjad. The two suspects, Safeer Ahmed and Ali Raza, are accused of multiple aggravated homicides. Their defense lawyers did not attend the autopsy.

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We have increased our inspection capacity by increasing the number of labor inspectors, the number of Carabinieri from the Labor Protection Command, who operate in very close synergy with the inspectorate and territorial offices.