Italy’s main trade union confederation, CGIL, has officially joined the prosecution of a farm owner accused of murdering an Indian migrant worker who bled to death after a workplace accident. The case has sparked outrage over exploitative labour practices in Italy’s agricultural sector.
Antonello Lovato, 39, is on trial for the death of Satnam Singh, 31, who was working illegally on Lovato’s farm in Latina, south of Rome. Singh’s arm was severed by farm equipment on June 17, 2024, but instead of calling for medical help, Lovato allegedly abandoned him. Prosecutors initially considered manslaughter charges but later upgraded them to murder with malice after the fact, arguing Lovato knew his inaction could lead to death.
At the opening of the trial, Lovato admitted he panicked, telling the court, “I lost my head… I didn’t want him to die.” Meanwhile, dozens of union members, including Sikh workers, gathered outside in protest against “caporalato,” the illegal and exploitative labour system that many migrants endure in Italian farms.
CGIL’s secretary-general, Maurizio Landini, emphasized the need to overhaul exploitative labour practices, stating, “We must change the culture that treats people like disposable parts of a machine.” Under Italian law, civil complainants like CGIL can actively participate in the prosecution and seek damages if Lovato is convicted.
The trial, set to continue on May 27, is seen as a critical moment in the fight against labour exploitation. Landini warned that the problem goes beyond this case, urging systemic reforms to protect migrant workers as Italy’s farming season begins again.