The Italian government has approved access to EU recovery funds that will allow towns like Castel Volturno in southern Italy to provide alternative housing for thousands of migrant farm workers. This move is being celebrated by labour unions, who have long warned about the inhumane and unsafe conditions many of these workers endure in makeshift camps and shantytowns.
The Farm Labourers Union (FLAI-CGIL) and Italy’s largest union, CGIL Caserta, confirmed they hope to channel some of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) funds into municipal projects aimed at dismantling these informal settlements. These projects are especially focused on areas like Caserta in the Campania region, where many African and migrant labourers live in dire conditions close to farmlands.
The funds, originating from the European Union’s COVID-19 recovery package, were made available after a meeting by the National Committee for the Prevention and Fight against Undeclared Work. The committee aimed to promote legal employment for foreign workers in the agriculture sector while eliminating illegal housing camps that breed labour exploitation.
Castel Volturno, the only municipality in the Caserta area that won the tender for the project, is now expected to take the lead in transforming how seasonal workers are housed. The town is often described as deprived, with large numbers of migrants living in precarious conditions to stay close to the fields where they work.
Tammaro della Corte, Secretary General of FLAI CGIL Caserta, said the move sends a powerful message after what he described as “a worrying lack of action.” He explained that the union had persistently advocated for migrant workers and emphasized the urgency of addressing their vulnerability. He stressed that proper housing will not only improve living conditions but also reduce the level of exploitation in the agricultural industry.
According to della Corte, solving the housing problem is directly linked to restoring the rights and dignity of farm labourers who are vital to Italy’s food production chain. Removing these ghettos, he argued, will lead to fewer human rights abuses and better integration for these workers.
Sonia Oliviero, Secretary General of CGIL Caserta, highlighted that Castel Volturno was the only town that succeeded in securing the EU-backed funds, even though other local governments had submitted proposals. She urged Castel Volturno officials to act quickly and responsibly, adding that the union would work closely with the prefect’s office and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the success of the project.
This development comes just weeks after migrant worker protests erupted across Italy, following a deadly fire in a shantytown that underscored the dangerous conditions these labourers face. Labour advocates say the new housing projects could serve as a turning point in the long struggle for fair treatment and decent living conditions for migrant farmworkers.
By offering a safer place to live, officials and union leaders hope this will reduce the power of exploitative employers, give workers more freedom, and foster long-term social and economic improvements in migrant communities.