The Shadow Economy: A Glimpse into Campania’s Exploitation
In a region where regular employment remains an elusive dream for many, particularly in low-skilled sectors, two recent raids by the carabinieri and judicial police have peeled back the curtain on a deeply disturbing reality: a thriving underground economy built on the exploitation of vulnerable workers. The discoveries in San Gennaro Vesuviano and the Caserta countryside paint a grim picture of modern slavery, where individuals are subjected to inhumane conditions, meager wages, and a complete disregard for their basic human rights.
San Gennaro Vesuviano: The Factory-Dormitory Nightmare
The first operation led to the uncovering of an illicit textile factory in San Gennaro Vesuviano. What makes this case particularly egregious is not just the illegal nature of the business, but the living conditions imposed upon its workforce. Seventy workers were found crammed into a makeshift dormitory on the upper floors of the factory building. These spaces, originally intended as residential units, had been converted into squalid sleeping quarters, characterized by dilapidated beds, rudimentary facilities, and pervasive dampness and poor ventilation. Water for the entire structure was supplied by an illegally dug well, highlighting the complete absence of safety and health standards. The intervention, a collaborative effort involving the carabinieri, forest police, NIL, local police, and personnel from Enel and the ASL, resulted in 11 individuals being reported for their involvement in the abusive enterprise.
Caserta Countryside: Agricultural Laborers Trapped in a Vicious Cycle
Even more severe were the conditions faced by agricultural laborers in the Caserta region. An investigation coordinated by the Naples North Public Prosecutor’s Office exposed a widespread system of ‘caporalato’ – illegal labor brokerage – where farmworkers were subjected to extreme exploitation. An agricultural entrepreneur and his wife have been placed under house arrest, while two other suspects of Indian origin remain at large, facing charges of illicit intermediation, aggravated labor exploitation, and violence and threats. During a search, authorities discovered nearly 550,000 euros in the entrepreneur’s warehouse, along with four vans used to transport the workers. The investigation revealed that between 40 and 80 undocumented Indian workers were recruited and employed as farm laborers in fields spanning the provinces of Naples and Caserta.
These workers were transported to the fields in overcrowded vans, likened to animals, and without any safety measures. They were subjected to constant surveillance, threats of withheld wages or future employment, and intimidation to prevent any slowdowns in production. Rest breaks and sick leave were non-existent. They were allowed only a few minutes to eat, and only if they met a predetermined harvest quota – a chilling decree of ‘no quota, no food.’ They were forced to work in all weather conditions, even during the spraying of pesticides, exposing them to significant health risks.
A Systemic Failure: The Invisible Slaves of a Globalized Economy
These two cases, while shocking, are merely the tip of the iceberg in Campania’s labor landscape. They underscore a known scourge that, as the reports suggest, no authority seems genuinely committed to combating, perhaps because it serves the interests of many. The victims are the new slaves of a globalized economy, ensuring agricultural products at rock-bottom prices and industrial goods, often textiles for major national fashion brands, from factories that officially do not exist.
The ‘wage’ of 2.70 euros per hour paid to the undocumented farmworkers in Caserta evokes memories of Andrea D’Ambrosio’s 2016 film, ‘Due euro l’ora’ (Two Euros an Hour). That film was inspired by a real-life tragedy in Montesano sulla Marcellana, Salerno province, where in 2006, two female factory workers, Anna Mercadante (49) and Giovanna Curcio (16), died of asphyxiation in a mattress factory fire. They were paid precisely two euros an hour, a blackmail accepted due to a lack of alternatives. Twenty years later, alarmingly, little has changed.
The Unanswered Questions
- Why does such a blatant system of exploitation persist in Campania, despite its known existence?
- What measures are being taken to protect these vulnerable, often undocumented, workers?
- How do illegal factories and labor brokerage schemes operate with such impunity, often supplying major brands?
- What is the true scale of this modern slavery in the region, and what are the long-term consequences for its victims and society?
Moving Forward: A Call for Action
The discoveries by the carabinieri and judicial police serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need for comprehensive action. This includes not only stricter enforcement against illegal labor practices but also robust support systems for victims of exploitation, and a societal commitment to valuing human dignity over illicit profit. The fight against modern slavery requires a concerted effort from authorities, businesses, and the public to ensure that such egregious violations of human rights are eradicated from Campania’s economy.
