Some sources claim there are serious human rights violations in tomato cultivation in Italy, saying there are lots of problems with the production of canned tomatoes (which are widely available in Dutch stores). This emerged from research initiated by trade union FNV and supermarket representative CBL, the results of which were announced yesterday.
Seasonal workers, in particular, are exploited in Italy’s tomato cultivation. This mainly concerns migrant workers who can be exposed to forced labor, human trafficking and exploitation by criminal organizations. The living conditions are beyond description, according to the report.
As many as 5 million tomatoes are harvested in Italy every year. Almost 5 percent of canned Italian tomatoes are destined for the Dutch market. FNV and CBL want to improve working conditions in Italian tomato cultivation. To do this, they intend to collaborate with parties like governments, social organizations and trade unions.
Source: nltimes.nl
