Italy: Regularisation of `illegals'
01 January 1991
Italy: Regularisation of `illegals'
artdoc April=1993
A number of political parties have presented parliament
with a motion urging the government to `intervene by means of
special decrees and fast-stream laws to combat the spread of
illegal labour, by regularising current work situations, wherever
possible, and broadening the access of refugees, travellers,
immigrants,etc, to the legal jobs market. The motion specifies
that a one-off `pardon' is not what is required, but, rather, a
permanent legislative mechanism whereby workers and their
families forced into the `black' economy could emerge from a
cycle of illegality, petty criminality and social marginalisation
(Il Manifesto 30.1.93).
Treatment of `illegals' highlighted by death
An Italian businessman, Luigi Campa, has been arrested and
charged with `hiding a body and breaking immigration laws'
following the discovery of the body of an illegal immigrant,
Sheemar Vijay Kumaa, on a beach near Rome on New Year's Day.
Kumaa had been employed in slave-like conditions, cultivating
flowers in hot-houses. After work he lived in a shack with
seventeen other `illegals', mainly from India, Pakistan and North
Africa.
A police autopsy suggests that he died when he choked to death
on a boiled egg. According to La Republica, Kumaa died during an
evening meal, but his fellow workers were too frightened to
report his death as they believed they would lose their jobs and
be deported. It was then that their employer, Luigi Campa-who had
been convicted previously for employing illegals - decided to
wrap his body in rugs and throw it on the beach.
Following the discovery of the dead man's body, the police and
army have carried out a series of surprise raids on businesses
employing illegal immigrants (La Republica 9.1.93).
Security guards accused of torture at refugee reception centre
According to Rifondazione Comunista, security guards at a
reception centre for refugees in Bologna violently attacked a
young man who failed to produce the correct identification
papers. Subsequently, they tortured the man, who was later found
to have burns on his hands.
The management at the reception centre deny the allegations
(La Republica 16.2.93).
Meanwhile, in Naples, two police officers have been arrested.
They are accused of forcing young immigrants to have sex with
them in exchange for a permit to stay (La Gazetta di Moderna
3.2.93).
Homeless 'Yugoslavs to be deported
Homeless refugees from Yugoslavia have attempted to draw
attention to their plight by setting up a temporary camp on the
outskirts of Bologna. A local pacifist organisation has joined
the campaign after the refugees were issued with deportation
orders on the grounds that they had left the former Yugoslavia
before the war started (La Republica 12.2.93, 22.2.93).
Refugees immigration Europe
IRR European Race Audit no 3, 1993.
Contact: Liz Fekete, Institute of Race Relations,
2-6 Leeke Street, London WC1X 9HS. Tel: ++ 071 837 0041