On July 13, Italian police rescued 33 Indian farm workers from “slave-like” conditions in the northern province of Verona. These workers, lured to Italy with promises of good wages and job opportunities, were forced to endure grueling conditions, working 10-12 hours a day, seven days a week, for wages as low as four euros per hour. Many of them were also coerced into paying large sums for work permits, some as high as €17,000, but were trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation. Employers withheld their already meager wages, citing debt repayment as the reason.

The police have launched an investigation into two Indian nationals, suspected of orchestrating the exploitation scheme. Nearly €500,000 has been seized from them, and they face charges related to labor exploitation and enslavement. The rescued workers have been granted legal residency, allowing them access to job opportunities and protection from further exploitation.

This rescue operation follows heightened scrutiny of labor practices in Italy, which has faced growing concerns over labor exploitation in its agricultural sector​.