A man is accused of paying migrants five euros an hour to work between eight and 10 hours per day, without food, water or adequate lodgings near the Sardinian city of Cagliari, investigative sources said on Wednesday (July 31).

Cagliari 'squadra mobile' police officers arrested the 39-year-old for allegedly exploiting five asylum seekers hosted in a temporary reception center in Monastir, about 20 kilometers from Cagliari.

Investigation on suspected gangmaster system

The suspect from Cagliari, who owns a farm in Monastir, has been ordered to report to authorities after the arrest. The investigation on the suspected gangmaster was carried out by the police in cooperation with labor inspectors in Cagliari and Oristano and kicked off a few days ago after someone reported to labor inspectors that workers were being hired off the books by the farm. Police officers inspected the area and listened to the testimony of a few migrants before arresting the farm owner.

Also read: Italy: Calls for greater protection against migrant worker exploitation

'Workday lasted 8-10 hours without food or water'

Police sources said the migrants worked for "eight-10 hours a day with a short break for lunch which the worker had to bring, as well as water, without individual protection material" to safeguard their security nor "areas to rest".

The sources went on to say that the workers' salary was way below the minimum wage established by national collective contracts and "failed to match the quantity and quality of the work carried out."

The police operation that led to the arrest kicked off on July 26 and five migrants were discovered to be working on the fields alongside the 39-year-old who was arrested, the sources explained.

Also read: Italy: 2 arrests for exploitation and violence against foreign farm workers