In the town of Bronte, on the Italian island of Sicily, an integration project for foreigners has been activated. Its aim is to counter labor exploitation in the agricultural sector through entrepreneurship.

The project, which began in April 2022, includes 20 participants that were selected and are currently undergoing an initial orientation and training course for entrepreneurship.

According to organizers, eight participants will be selected in the second phase who will be given specialist training for certification as farm enterprise managers and for the use of agriculture funds for new social projects.

Anti-exploitation project

A statement issued on July 1 noted that the project aims to "identify paths for innovative socially beneficial agriculture aiming to legalize and integrate foreign nationals into the Sicilian labor market to consolidate a transversal network to counter labor exploitation."

The network will reportedly consist of both private individuals and public entities involved in integrated reception in Bronte.

The activities are financed by the Sicily regional government within the Special Immigration Office as part of the Piu Supreme project, co-funded by the Italian labor ministry and the EU with the national operating plan for European social inclusion 2014-2020.

Regional roundtable against labor exploitation

Meanwhile, a regional roundtable against labor exploitation has been set up. The councillor for family, social policies, and labor in Sicily, Antonio Scavone, on July 1 signed a decree for the swearing in of the body chaired by the councillor himself and made up of the general directors of the regional family and social policies departments as well as those of labor, professional training, and rural and territorial development; representatives of the prefect's offices of Agrigento, Catania, and Ragusa; and representatives of the regional directorates of the INAIL, ANPAL, ANCI Sicilia, CIA, FAI CISL, and FLAI CISL trade unions.

The body will meet for the first time within the next few weeks. Scavone called the roundtable "another step towards the protection of those working in the fields of our islands," continuing along a path "to ensure respect for rights and against the hateful phenomenon of exploitation in the fields."