How 16 farm workers have died in two days – and they are paid as little as $1.50 per 100kg

Australians are being urged to reconsider their tinned tomato buying habits after the working conditions of farmers in Italy were exposed.

Migrant workers in Italy’s tomato fields have gone on strike after 16 farm workers were killed in two separate incidents over the last two days.

Italy’s tomato industry worth approximately $3.5billion but despite this many migrant workers still being transported to and from sites in vans provided by local gangs, news.com.au reported. 

Migrant workers in Italy’s tomato fields have gone on strike after 16 farm workers were killed in two separate incidents over the last two days

On Monday, 12 workers were killed in a head-on collision while being transported home from work less than two days after four other workers were killed in an accident. 

Both incidents occurred when trucks transporting tomatoes struck the vans.

It’s reported that the vans are operated by an Italian gang known as the Caporali, who connect cheap labour with farmers and then transport migrant workers for a fee. 

Since the accident workers, who only earn as little as a single euro per 100kg of tomatoes, have been on strike holding signs that read ‘we are not slaves’. 

On Monday 12 workers were killed in a head on collision while being transported home from work less than two days after four other workers were killed in an accident

Consumers are being encouraged to buy local, with Australian brand Ardmona selling their 400g cans for $1.80 while Italy’s Annalisa tomatoes cost $1 from Woolworths

Mohamed Doumbé Keita, an undocumented migrant from Guinea told Vice News that the life of a migrant worker in the country was ‘every man for himself’. 

‘Life is tough here. There’s no medical care, and each man fends for himself. If you don’t put in 10 hours a day, you won’t even make €20 ($31),’ he said.

Now consumers are being encouraged to buy local, with Australian brand Ardmona selling their 400g cans for $1.80 while Italy’s Annalisa tomatoes cost $1 from Woolworths. 

Since the accident workers, who only earn as little as a single euro per 100kg of tomatoes, have been on strike holding signs that read ‘we are not slaves’