The Italian authorities are investigating accusations that two firms, involved in fruit and vegetable distribution in the province of Siena, may have been exploiting migrant workers. Allegations include inadequate pay and 15-hour shifts, with no days off.
Two firms involved in fruit and vegetable distribution in Italy's Siena province, in Tuscany, have been accused of exploiting ten migrant workers including one minor in their produce shops.
The firms allegedly exploited the workers' needy conditions to pay them wages below what collective contracts require, and for shifts that lasted between 12 and 15 hours, without breaks and without a single day off during the workweek.
They are also accused of violating work safety regulations and forcing the workers to live in "degrading housing conditions".
The two firms are owned by the same man and managed several produce shops in the Siena province, say the authorities.
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55,000 euros seized
The man has been accused of illicit intermediation and labor exploitation and his firms have been placed under corporate judicial control.
A total of 55,000 euros have also been seized as a preventive measure, read a statement from Italy's financial police (Guardia di Finanza).
The investigation began after checks conducted in February 2024 by the carabinieri for undocumented labor in the produce sector in the area.
The financial police (Guardia di finanza) then conducted asset checks into the man under investigation and his firms, including controlling for financial assets that were later seized.