Dear Comrades,
On behalf of the All Pakistan Federation of United Trade Unions (APFUTU), we extend our deepest condolences and heartfelt solidarity to USB, the families of the victims, and all workers across Italy following the horrific incident in Calabria on 2 June, where four migrant farm workers tragically lost their lives.
We are profoundly shocked and saddened by the brutal murder of four workers three Afghan nationals and one Pakistani national who were allegedly burned alive in Amendolara, Calabria. This unspeakable crime represents a grave assault on human dignity, workers’ rights, and the fundamental values of justice and humanity.
APFUTU fully shares the position of USB, which rightly described these murders as an “unspeakable horror” and called upon political leaders to combat the daily abuses and exploitation experienced by workers, particularly migrants, in rural areas. The tragic deaths of these workers expose the harsh realities faced by many migrant labourers who leave their countries in search of decent work and a better future, only to encounter exploitation, violence, and modern forms of slavery.
We are equally moved by the statement of Roberto Occhiuto, President of the Calabria Region, who described this as a chilling tragedy that raises profound questions about migration, human dignity, and the responsibilities of a civilized society toward its most vulnerable members. These questions demand urgent answers and decisive action from governments, employers, and society as a whole.
Reports indicating that the victims were subjected to threats, forced labour, non-payment of wages, and inhumane living conditions are deeply disturbing. The survivor’s testimony highlights the dangerous criminal networks that prey upon vulnerable migrant workers. The persistence of the caporalato system and other forms of labour exploitation demonstrates the urgent need for stronger labour protections, effective law enforcement, and international trade union solidarity.
As a trade union federation representing workers in Pakistan, APFUTU is particularly concerned because many migrant workers leave South Asia with the hope of securing lawful employment abroad. Too often, they become victims of trafficking, deceptive recruitment practices, debt bondage, and labour exploitation. The deaths of these workers remind us that the struggle for workers’ rights knows no borders and requires a united international response.
In this spirit, APFUTU wishes not only to express solidarity with USB but also to strengthen and expand our working relationship with your esteemed organization. We believe that greater cooperation between our unions can contribute to the protection of migrant workers, the promotion of decent work, the fight against forced labour and human trafficking, and the advancement of social justice across borders.
We look forward to enhancing collaboration through the exchange of experiences, joint advocacy initiatives, workers’ education programmes, and coordinated efforts to defend the rights and dignity of all workers, regardless of nationality, migration status, or occupation.
Please convey our sincere condolences to the families of the victims and our solidarity to all workers affected by this tragedy. We stand with USB in demanding justice for the victims, accountability for the perpetrators, and meaningful reforms to eliminate exploitation and abuse in the agricultural sector.
Together, we must continue our collective struggle for decent work, human dignity, equality, and social justice.
In solidarity,
APFUTU
