Italy's Sikh Slaves | People and Power

The vast agricultural plains of the Agro-Pontino in central Italy is now one of the country's main areas of food production.

Yet it was not always the case.

This 100 mile-long stretch of land facing the Tyrrhenian Sea was marshland until a century ago when fascist dictator Benito Mussolini organised a mass migration from northern Italy to drain the swamps and turn them into fertile farmland.

But many of those who live today are not Italian, they are Indian - at least 11,000 of them, and possibly up to four times more.

Mostly Sikhs from Punjab in northern India, they are economic migrants who have come here to work in local farms and send money home to give their families a better life.

Some manage to do just that. But for many others, their dreams are crushed.

Instead, they face abuse and exploitation from both profit-driven agri-businesses and organised crime - labouring for pitiful wages, often without official documentation, and trapped in a system from which there is no escape.

Filmmakers Alessandro Righi and Emanuele Piano went to investigate for People & Power.

[achulettaaquilo]

But you wouldn’t investigate the poor living conditions and long working hours in the sun in Qatar

[SS-syqw]

In India you'd never hear Sikhs and poor in the same sentence. They are the most successful community and do so much for the poor. So proud of the Sikh community in India. Respect guys.

[thebrainhacker]

as a south indian.. sikh people r the best in india.. they will never discriminate u or beat u based on ur religion.. having a sikh collage friend is one of the best thing

[Dee_p_sa-ku]

My wife's cousin returned from Italy without getting months of wages, later on he moved to Canada after running shop and driving taxi in India for few years. With the grace of God he is settled

[warralvan]

You guys should also do an investigative documentary on Indian Labours in the Middle East

[qcrqvbz]

Sikh Soldiers have helped us Bangladeshi in our liberation war, this is very painful for me to see.

[arifali]

So sad but why do they keep coming? Who and why helps them migrate like this? Suicidal part is the most painful. Sikhs are very hardworking and honest people. Globally they help humanity in various aspects. They deserve better life.

[bigbite]

People who live abroad only understand this such kind of pain..

[MDKL]

Maybe Al Jazeera needs to look in their own backyard first (Kuwait, UAE, Qatar, Bahrain) and see real slaves from India, Philipines, Bangladesh, etc.

[santhosh_prem]

This is pure exploitation, not slavery. Choice of words is crucially important

[HNCTECH]

Colonialism is not an act, it's an ideology, and it's alive.

[Sikhbuddy]

Same story in Spain, and so on many other countries. These companies always make some indian supervisor and that supervisor will exploits other Poor Indian workers working under them.

[kuldipmann]

I have been through these kind of conditions in Canada. I and my wife worked for a farmer . We were never paid for one full year of work. Farmer declared bankruptcy. I supported our self with my second job. I use to work 16 to 24 hours.
I am thankful to God. I went on to establish multimillion furniture manufacturing. My mentality I regret also became to take advantage.
In my mind I bow at the feet of everyone. But I did not exploit them without all of them actually making more money had I done by the book.
As they would not have earned so much more nor I would have been able to sell furniture for less.
Today everyone my ex workers are multi millionaire them self.
They made union I was not able to pay the overtime. Thus had to cutback to regular hours. The earnings went down. Prices went up.
Became uncompetitive. The company business was lost . Housing industry boom was able to pay 3 times furniture industry.
Only the best survived or those Indians who operated as I did with own family members . As they work while collecting government benefitat the same time.
These things have been with humans and will be always.
Out of which are born the best flowers to provide opportunity.
In my furniture company I worked 20 hours slept on the machines .My wife would bring my brake fast to the factory as I had been working all night.
Did not go home for 6 months. But my mother use to tell .God gave us bodies to work . Use it God will reward. God did reward money.
But I lost my family life.
Today I feel I claimed the mountain. But from the wrong side and wrong top.
But I am still happy as ultimately we die anyway. Humans never stop complaining.
I see most of my employees are happy and wealthy. May be cursing me.
The missing link is they got the opportunity from that place. I tolled besides them.

[pablobenz]

I love my Sikhs brothers . Greetings from Chicago!!! ♥️

[Lostandfoundhere]

great documentary. please make such contents. I did my higher studies from Punjab and most of my classmates didn't study hard but went to Italy and Canada. once I spoke to a friend who came for a winter vacation after a few years and he told me that he works for a farm doing grapefruit farming. Most of those guys came back disappointed but never spoke about their experiences there. now I know why. 😔 these r really most innocent and a wonderful hearted rural people from India.
love and best wishes 💚

[tirathsinghAus]

Italians haven't learnt anything from how they were treated when the italians migrated to USA, Canada, Australia etc. How ignorant can you be. The cycle continues.

[JaspreetSingh-koed]

Sikhs, one of best and bravest martial religion has come to the point where they’re called slaves

[sukhtiwana]

Its not all true because many people are living with their family ...i am also living with my son and wife . now situations is better than past ...italian are hard working people ..they are also doing hard work

[Manjeetsingh-glop]

Going Italy is just a trend in India Punjab. but reality is different that is why most of sikh workers are being exploited there. This video must aware newcomers

[Wpdhsx]

Investigate the farm owners in Abbotsford, Mission, Surrey (British Columbia, Canada).
While you’re at it, investigate the workers at Indian restaurants.