Italy Faces Workplace Tragedy: Five Fatal Accidents in Two Days Prompt Calls for Urgent Reform
Italy has witnessed a shocking surge in workplace fatalities, with two more workers killed in accidents on Tuesday, bringing the total to five in less than 48 hours. Maurizio Landini, leader of the CGIL trade union, characterized the situation as a "massacre" rather than an emergency, highlighting the alarming trend of work-related fatalities across the country.
"People continue to die because health and safety is considered a cost," Landini stated, emphasizing that profit often takes precedence over employee wellbeing. "The person has become a machine."
Among the recent victims was a 62-year-old man who lost his life after being struck by a vehicle while unloading goods in Carpiano, near Milan. The UIL trade union reported that this man had to return to work at a logistics center post-retirement due to the rising cost of living, which rendered his pension insufficient.
A 24-year-old construction worker also tragically died after falling from scaffolding in the Lambrate district of Milan, marking another grim addition to the statistics. Moreover, just one day prior, multiple fatalities were reported in various locations, including a worker electrocuted in Ciociaria, another construction worker who fell to his death near Naples, and a third victim who was killed at a metal plant in Veneto.
In response to these alarming statistics, Premier Giorgia Meloni announced that her government would allocate 650 million euros to enhance workplace health and safety measures ahead of the May Day national holiday. Furthermore, a meeting is scheduled for Thursday between government officials and trade unions to address the pressing issue of occupational safety.
According to the workplace accident insurance agency INAIL, work-related deaths have escalated significantly, rising by 837 to a total of 205 in just the first quarter of this year. This shocking data underscores the urgent need for reform in Italy's workplace safety regulations to prevent further loss of life.
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