Italian police have arrested two Pakistani nationals on suspicion of murdering four farm workers—three Afghans and one Pakistani—whose bodies were found in a burnt-out minivan at a petrol station near Amendolara, a village in the Calabria region. The incident, reported by Italian media on Tuesday, has reignited scrutiny of labour exploitation and gangmastering in Italian agriculture.
The sole survivor, a 35-year-old Afghan national named Mohammad Taj Alamyar, told investigators he escaped by smashing a window and fleeing. Speaking to public broadcaster Rai, he described how the two suspects threatened him and his colleagues with knives and guns, forcing them to work without pay. “They didn’t give us any money; they gave us food, yes, housing, yes, but no money,” he said. He also alleged that the suspects demanded €5 per day for transport and, when the victims refused to pay, doused the van interior with petrol and threw in a lighter.
CCTV footage from the petrol station, cited by Corriere della Sera, shows two individuals blocking the van’s doors from outside and throwing liquid inside before a fire breaks out. Firefighters extinguished the blaze and recovered the bodies. Local police chief Antonio Borelli stated, “This is definitely murder, we just have to work out the details.”
A Pattern of Violence
The attack is not an isolated incident. Italian media report at least 14 cases of arson involving vehicles carrying Pakistani nationals in the area over recent months, driven by tensions among migrants over the allocation of farm work, residency documents, and accommodation. The victims had been hired for the strawberry harvest at a farm in Scansano Ionico, where they were reportedly paid €45 per day initially, but later received only housing and no wages.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the killings on X, writing: “The horrific murder of the four farmworkers in Calabria has shocked us all. Italy will not back down in the face of violence and barbarity.” The Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL) called the act “unspeakable horror” and announced a rally starting from the petrol station in Amendolara.
Systemic Exploitation
The case highlights the broader issue of gangmastering in Italy. The Placido Rizzotto observatory’s 2022 report estimates that around 230,000 people are exploited in Italian fields—a quarter of all agricultural labourers. Irregular work is particularly widespread in Apulia, Sicily, Campania, Calabria, and Lazio, where over 40% of workers lack formal contracts. In northern regions, the rate is slightly lower, between 20% and 30%.
Italy’s Law 199, passed in 2016, targets gangmastering through tougher penalties and employer liability. However, prevention efforts have stalled due to insufficient inspections and migrants’ fear of reporting abuses, as they often depend on gangmasters for the documents needed to obtain residence permits. This dynamic traps workers in conditions akin to slavery, even without pay.
The Amendolara tragedy is a stark reminder of the human cost of labour exploitation in Europe. As the CGIL rally approaches, the case underscores the urgent need for stronger enforcement and protections for migrant workers across the continent.
