Slaves in Italy? | DW Documentary

Yvan Sagnet from Cameroon is battling modern slavery in Italy's agricultural sector. Sagnet once worked as a low-wage farmhand. Now he is fighting for the rights of seasonal farmworkers, taking criminal recruiters, or gangmasters, to court.
Yvan Sagnet calls them slaves: the hundreds of thousands of seasonal farmworkers from Africa and eastern Europe on Italy's fields. Without their labor the country would have no tomato, orange or olive harvest. But the workers are exploited and often forced to live under inhumane conditions in ruins or shanty towns called ghettos. In 2011 Sagnet himself briefly picked tomatoes on the fields near the southern Italian town of Nardò. For four days he labored to fill the 350-kilogram crates. He earned 14 euros a day, ten of which he had to hand over to the gangmaster, or Caporale, for transport and water. Caporale is the term for the criminal recruiters who control and exploit the workers. After a 14-hour day working under the blazing sun and even being beaten, Sagnet took home only four euros. He helped to organize the first strike among the farmhands. It was a success, and since then he has been an activist for the rights of the farmworkers and against the gangmasters. Despite death threats, he has set up an organization called NoCap, a label to certify produce farmed under ethically acceptable conditions. And he has taken his fight against exploitation and slavery to the courts. So far, the Italian justice system has responded slowly. It's a fight that will take a long time to win.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
DW Documentary gives you knowledge beyond the headlines. Watch high-class documentaries from German broadcasters and international production companies. Meet intriguing people, travel to distant lands, get a look behind the complexities of daily life and build a deeper understanding of current affairs and global events. Subscribe and explore the world around you with DW Documentary.
Subscribe to DW Documentary:
/ @dwdocumentary
Our other KZbin channels:
DW Documental (in spanish): / dwdocumental
DW Documentary وثائقية دي دبليو: (in arabic): / dwdocarabia
For more documentaries visit also:
www.dw.com/en/tv/docfilm/s-3610
Instagram
/ dwdocumentary
Facebook:
/ dw.stories
DW netiquette policy: p.dw.com/p/MF1G

[@giadaghezzi510]

Yvan is risking his life every second going against mafia like this. In Italy there's a dizzyingly long list of people who died while trying to fight the mafia and its abonimations. They knew the consequences it would have bring upon them, but still choose to give their life to this cause. By doing all of this Yvan's not fighting only for migrants, but for Italians and Italy too. We should be immensely grateful and proud of him.

[@paulhamj6175]

It is not THE mafia they are going against, it said a mafia-like structure. I get that they are bullies and violent but it is not the mafia of Scicily or anything to do with them.

[@judyruiz5710]

While watching this, I found myself thinking the same. He is literally putting his life in danger. I have a lot of respect for him and the courage he shows.

[@Ninja-gt3zi]

@@paulhamj6175 the mafia isnt only in sicily. Mafia is all over Italy

[@ImehSmith]

AMEN

[@ImehSmith]

@@Ninja-gt3zi Mafia is all over the WORLD

[@solidjuicyke6591]

Actually Africa is the best place to stay in. It’s just our leaders who are corrupt, but we are the ones choosing those leaders 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@teketchup6ix9inelopez97]

stephen maube the corruption will vanish as soon as Western corporations get the hell out of Africa and give us back our mines. Let us sell our own oil and gold.

[@shmaisrael]

Hehe, we choose them once and then they choose to impose 😑

[@maryokerichards4539]

Nobody chooses them they have a mechanism that they put in place they rob people of their votes

[@kimichibimpap2375]

No one chooses them. They take by force.

[@tranlily3001]

stephen maube honestly for me it's Southeast Asia is the best place for stay! since i'm Southeast Asia. our weather is amazing, not humid like sand-deserts like Middleast areas, not hot like hell like Africa, not cold as frozen like Europe! Mostly is summer all year long, but not crazy hot like Africa. Long beach, many beautiful island, our landscape is amazing! i hope our next generation should be cherish & proud of who we are, where we come from to take care & pushing working/education more to growing each Southeast Asian country! Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand is beautiful country!! weather & lands & people!!

[@ilovealexo]

It's disgusting how humans treat each other 🤬

[@renjia3504]

You started it I'm just working my employees to death I think it's wrong that you call people like me out

[@renjia3504]

@Danjel M and your weak for thinking we're gods worst creation no we are intelligent beings capable of complex ablities unmatched by any other species. We will teraform this planet into a centerpiece of universal domination, Elon has already marked the moon or mars as the next colonization point humanities reign of galactic domination has just begun, we are Earth's greatest species, things will die from their inability to understand it's inferiority to us humans, but it's a natural part of evolution it's emotionally sad I suppose, but it's just natural. We see this in the universe all the time a larger star eating the smaller star who knows a planetary wide genocide could, be occuring because of this destruction To advance though the larger star must destroy the smaller star and absorb it

[@igors.787]

Go back where you come from.

[@iljenshumilin467]

@@renjia3504 if we where intelligent we wouldn't destroy this planet but hey nobody cares because humanity is stupid and they don't care about earth

[@renjia3504]

@@iljenshumilin467 I am intelligent, maybe not the most intelligent, but to be able to teraform the planet to a human liking is something only intelligent could do, we are slowly working on more earth compatible options so we do not kill the world we call home do not blame me for the mistakes of yesterday I am a visionary a revolutionist, in time this planet will be ours then we will work to conquer new worlds once we have mastered earth eventually meeting other life forms in the universe

[@a_chaotic_spark]

The president literally awarded him but didn't change anything!

[@bernardoforcillo]

The president hasn't politic power (I'm italian)

[@bernardoforcillo]

* Prime minister has got the politic power, but for the incompetence of some politics, in italy prime minister is changing every 1.5 years(circa)

[@WA-fc9gc]

Because Italian politicians are mafias themselves!

[@noreplica1142]

Lol

[@falkonuninga6993]

Italy is fascist. Just look at how they are forcing the covid pass on everyone.

[@ronalddowdell1931]

I'm so tired of people taking advantage of others just because they can.

[@classylady9295]

Me tooo!

[@bgggsht]

Human nature isn't very different from other animals nature, at the end all we care for is food and home and we'll do anything to preserve both, we would have to change on a biological level, get rid of these needs and ways of fulfillment. It's a pure science-fiction, i know.

[@dr8997]

@@bgggsht do animals exhibit signs of greed though? if anything, they care more about the food they encounter mostly because they're uncertain when they'll eat again.

[@tombirmingham7033]

evil is allowed to prosper by good men doing nothing. What will you do to change things? What are you willing to do? What are you capable of?

[@isaiahhouston228]

welcome to world of humans thats how we got this far lol

[@prettyprincess1227]

Slavery doesn't require chains ⛓️. That hit different 🙏🙏

[@merry6671]

They literally immigrated there just to do that. It's not slavery. They are literally the reason why they are paid less. If they hadn't come, people working on farms would have to be paid more, but these people outcompete them.

[@jkjkman8565]

@@merry6671 still doesnt need to have slaves

[@merry6671]

@@jkjkman8565 Which slaves. Nobody captured them.

[@Oyzatt]

To be a slave today is a choice

[@lanouek]

Its very wrong but it's not slavery

[@VivalaryMan]

I always find it interesting we as humans say we are completely opposed to slavery, yet it's clearly EXACTLY what we want because we want the best, cheap. If you have an iphone, Nike trainers etc you just can't say you are against slavery. This applies here too. We want the best fruit and food, cheap. As long as we don't have to see the human suffering beyond that delicious veneer, we're perfectly content.

[@samaraisnt]

It applies most to our food. You don't need Nikes, but everyone needs food and the conditions that create the most rockbottom produce prices are always slavery. (Maybe there's a country that doesn't apply to, but NOT in the West!)

[@kellil8678]

I am glad that I now grow my own tomatoes. I will be planting more in the future so I can harvest enough for my extended family. This is the least I can do. Wish I knew what else I could do other than pray.

[@MegaKojo99]

“Withoutd the low wage workers it would be left to rot in the fields”, no, without low wage workers, farm owners would be forced to pay people proper wages in order to attract people

[@pawwilon]

and your tomats would go up in price 3x at the same time

[@MegaKojo99]

Pav If farmers in the north of Italy, in France etc can afford to grow tomoatos and keep a decent price then so can farmers in the south

[@gimlet4ever411]

It is the corporate elites that are controlling the farmers. The farmers are stuck in the middle, The USA lost their small farmers in the 1980's thanks to Globalist Pres. Jimmy Carter. Next was stealing of US taxpayers money for the Bank Bailout in 2008. Corrupt Politicians and Bankers hid this all through their corrupt news media. The United Nations and the Corporate elites want global anarchy. For the past 70 years we have spent Trillions of dollars to help people (UN organizations) and the only ones lining their pockets is the politicians & corporations.

[@MegaKojo99]

gimlet 4ever that is an v important aspect , you are right. Supermarkets take too much profits from the fruit/veg, they force farmers to compete and sell for less. Ideally farmers need to be connected directly to people without middlemen

[@TheKefmoth]

If tomatoes must cost 3x more without slaves... Then they must cost 3x more. It's NO excuse to treat people badly because people must eat cheap tomatoes!

[@tiermacgirl]

The whole world does not know, media is less effective at sharing these stories than you think. Props to you for exposing the truth

[@bgggsht]

If anything, media is good at covering the truth and leading our attention where they want it to be

[@jmonie02]

this isn't media ?

[@thornyback]

This is one of very few English speaking channels with quality news out of Europa.

[@agnesnyepen6989]

Thank you for the great exposure

[@fredwooten14]

I Appreciate this young man's bravery!

[@modiallo5685]

Bravo to this cameroonian brother for trying to expose this modern day slavery. May God bless him.

[@carollilly2834]

Absolutely! Amen!!

[@bellabacci8056]

He has a choice he can go back home

[@deidradahl2802]

The tomatoes planted by these Africans, are destined to be exported TO Africa, instead of staying in Africa and plant tomatoes to export within the rest of Africa. The African governments, allows these imports. These tomatoes are cheaper, because they are subsidized by the European Union, so the locals say it makes no sense to farm them, thousands of kilos, are rotting in African fields. this Activist should go home, form a group, and confront his own government, and continent, and stop telling Italy how to run their country

[@SeeLasSee]

He can go to the police for being struck. He can leave. It’s unacceptable abuse and exploitation but not slavery.

[@sosammathomas1525]

Anybody forcing him to do this .leave the place and go home. Is anybody stopping them to leave? Go back to your land.

[@Ablestreet]

What a horror! When will human beings stop this inhumane treatment of others? It seems some of us do not have a conscience.

[@fabiogaldinogeol1065]

@JustA noob you know nothing

[@raffellorosenbergi9094]

@Solaris I agree.

[@charlyholland3740]

Unfortunately humans have always and will always be greedy. Which means if someone is profiting from someone else misery then it won't be stopped any time soon. 😑

[@robertopezzutto5843]

Dont forget that they chose to come illegally to Italy, with no documents ... I am sure they weren't living much better in their own countries where at least they had a house... Therefore it is stupid to complain about something you chose to do..

[@Betty121Boop]

Or you have heartless asshats who can't even sympathize with someone else misery but they will gladly put on that uniform to destroy another's home

[@philliplyn2692]

Loving this one thanks for sharing very information blessed love to all knowledge is power hopefully everyone pays attention keep up the good work 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿🇯🇲🇯🇲🇯🇲

[@s043849]

Footnote: If Yvan Sagnet is getting death threats is it smart to show his wife and their child's face? I hope more changes have taken place since the documentary aired. He is indeed a brave man!

[@QOOQ8808]

Cameroon president lives just across the border in Switzerland. Pay him a visit.

[@tanumzalendo1567]

QOOQ8808 What?😳

[@terriesmith8219]

Documentary like DW always blame European countries but don't blame Africa's own corrupt government for allowing their own people to starve while these African politicians make millions per year and live in multi-million dollar penthouse.

[@tanumzalendo1567]

Terrie Smith Very true! Am kenyan ... our politicians earn a lot of money while a common citizen is suffering! I thank God I got education and job opportunity in Germany

[@wendyalleyne6902]

Blame your own country leaders

[@terriesmith8219]

@Sean Sullivan It's not Capitalism. It's human nature. It's human nature for the rich to exploit the poor. It's been this way since the beginning of time. Communism is exploitative too. It's not just capitalism. Communism is basically giving all your power to the government. You longer have the freedom to make your life better because communism is giving production over to the government. Communism is worse than capitalism. Atleast with capitalism you have the opportunity to dig yourself out of being poor. With communism, you have no freedom to do that. You'll have to ask the government for permission with your own means of production.

[@redemption8980]

I have been in bad situation but this.....even if it's in the name of making money....I prefer to suffer in my country than in a foreign land.

[@siegghynss5742]

Me too. It was enough they brought my ancestors from my home continent 400 years ago. We survived then, we still do now.

[@marrokraff998]

Maybe or maybe not. In many cases it's much worse in Africa. Travel for an hour or two on unpaved life dangering roads. Also theres no running water in these farms or electricity. And the warlords give them even less than in Italy and if the workers die of heat stroke or get killed in a mines it's simply understood as the risk for making wages. Plus they exploit any workers including paying pennies to children. And poverty drives these workers to work in these conditions because even the little that they make is better than nothing. Whats worse is that in some places in Africa. These workers are exposed to toxic by products either when they're working in the mines extracting minerals or recycling certain metals from electronic products. Not saying what the Caporali is doing is ethical. Just saying it is equally as bad in Africa and in many cases even worse. And this is just understood as unwritten law. Do you think that in Africa you can gather witnesses and take it to the higher court, work with local farmers and vendors to improve the safety and working conditions and get better pay lol are you kidding me? That person and their whole family will get murdered within 24 hours! So the exploitation of human slavery is already occuring in Africa. It's just being adopted in places like Italy from the brains of fellow Africans. If fellow Africans didn't exploit their own people this wouldn't happen. It's really greed that makes them cruel to their fellow man. Greed is what makes fellow Africans exploit their own people for profit and riches. Greed is what makes the Italian farmers agree with the exploitation. But that greed starts at home first in Africa because that's the origin of the exploitation since the beginning of time.

[@zackdiarra4805]

@@marrokraff998 You are repeating this everywhere as if one legitimizes the other! Please, stop being apologetic! If it would come down to just comparison between two evil situations or who is less/more devil, there is no reason whatsoever for any one to leave her/his home country, to begin with!

[@marrokraff998]

@@zackdiarra4805 not being apologetic at all! These African brothers wouldn't be here if it wasn't for other African brothers who exploited them for money in the first place. Something that happens normally and regularly all over the African continent. Especially among the do not haves. What do you mean there's no reason for anyone to leave his or her country? Are you stating that from the comfort of your own home because you don't suffer from poverty? Have you not been paying any attention here? If there's no reason for Africans to leave their country why are there thousands of Africans stuck in the Canary Islands trying to make their way into Europe. Why are there hundreds of thousands of Africans trying to make it into Europe every single year?! Non sensical

[@zackdiarra4805]

@@marrokraff998 I am just rewording what the original comment says: "I prefer to suffer in my country than in a foreign land..." Also, not only Africans who are trying their hard to make it in Europe or America, Arabs, Asians and other Europeans and or latin americans are all doing it every single day! Maybe, we should stop with this selective blame towards africans ... Immigration has been and always be (till Yowm eddin) an inherent human being behaviour!

[@Noirmariposa]

I saw the documentary on west African countries like Ghana no longer growing tomatoes and closing long running processing plants - while the workers go to Italy . I’ve been wondering how that transition happened. Also how palm trees became the primary source of produce in Malaysia. This is crazy .

[@shotimemillionaire]

As a high school kid from an African immigrant family I worked in the fields along Mexicans in California picking tomatoes for $2 per bucket. Years later after befriending an Italian exchange student in college, I flew to Frankfurt, Germany and later to took a train to Parma, Italy to visit my Italian friend. I was surprised to see that the family had a sprawling farm, but even more outwardly surprised to see African farmhands working the fields. I was introduced to a few of the farmhands and I'll never forget the look in their eyes. The dichotomy of our social differences was abstruse .... because we were both African.

[@Dymitri-Babushka.]

Come back home brother Africa is beautiful full of opportunities and love

[@miquidade1]

Non è semplice abbiamo in Africa tutti i caporali Africani arabi europei e adesso anche cinesi caro Omar senza raccomandazioni peggio. Sono africana e donna so quello che dico

[@commoveo1]

😢

[@francafattori8998]

Yassin...🙏💚🙏 no come back Africa, but stay in Italy with better works, without injustice and with equal rights...I hope and pray for our African brother's future here in Italy ❤❤❤❤❤❤ Insh'Allah....

[@francafattori8998]

@Rana Ali Akhtar Alam Khan yes for the same reasons...😰😰😰 therefore Insh'Allah for these unlucky our African brothers...🙏💚🙏

[@francafattori8998]

@@commoveo1 yes...😪😪😪

[@olamao786]

Who do we blame than our self centred African leaders that have taken all our monies into their private pocket. How do we expect respect from other people when our very own don’t respect us.? I sincerely feel their pains.

[@Paul.Nafuka.2488]

You're definitely right and the solution lies within us the youth to stand up to these cruel people the so-called our African leaders and also to encourage our fellow African to put extra effort in their studies especially if in foreign countries

[@demarcusshipman6537]

😢😭I agree

[@jason4275]

@@Paul.Nafuka.2488 The problem is Education, Europe, America, steal resources, and Now China and Russia, is building Roads, apartment and railways, putting many countries deeper in debt, and take resources, in return for the debt, this is not going to help, the one this none of these Countries or Empires, are not doing in Africa, is Educating the people, their spending billions, but their not building Schools, so Africans can understand how to proper use their resources, grow their own food, and understanding economics, this level of hate and envy has also affecting rich African Americans, who would rather spend all their money in Europe making them richer, than even thinking about visiting Africa.

[@Pacdatty831]

It’s a worldwide issue. We’re global until there’s an issue then it quickly becomes a them problem 😔

[@Sistarful]

@@Paul.Nafuka.2488 Well ,Descendants of Slaves (DOS) in the USA laid out the groundwork ... happy to see Resistance

[@AhJodie]

What a lovely man. These same things happen all over to agricultural workers, USA too. I am so glad you are helping Yvan.

[@qezzmilli9512]

Hi

[@AhJodie]

@@qezzmilli9512 hi

[@leptir7110]

TO SE DOĢAĐA POSVUDA ,DAJ ČOVJEKU MOČ NAD DRUGIM I VIDJETI ČEŠ KAKAV JE ,POSTAVLJA SE SAMO PITANJE KAKO SE ITALIJANSKA POLITIKA ODNOSI PREMA SVOJIM POLJOPRIVREDNICIMA ,KOLIKO ONI MOGU ZARADITI A KOLIKO DRŽAVA ,TRGOVCI ITD

[@sunnylamine]

Yvan is driven by righteousness. I felt terrible hearing him recount the death if his friend. A few years ago, my Guinea Uncle passed away in transport to the hospital. His city was semi-remote and there was no public health system for anyone there. It still saddens me immensely to know that he was alive when he left for help and passed in transport.

[@saibliss7976]

Africa is such a rich and beautiful land. With the right leadership none of this would undermine a single African person. All Africans deserve a peaceful, prosperous and safe life. Bless Them 🙏💗💕

[@francafattori8998]

God bless Africa ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Whatsmynamewhocares]

Seriously.

[@organicmagic8822]

Colonialism has ruined it. Evangelism will destroy what's left

[@BigPaPaOG5]

@@organicmagic8822 Islam is destroying a lot of Africa as well.

[@lanouek]

Sadly Africa hasn't learned from its past and now China will continue the destruction

[@wizzysloungetitaure]

The grass is never greener no matter where you go. Stay in your own homes and fight where you are. Being a foreigner is never easy. This is sad to watch. Human trafficking and exploitation is so so bad all around the world. It's so good to see someone truly fighting for justice.

[@simba8665]

It is in the US & Canada

[@mauritsvanoranje6725]

@@simba8665 yes the most poorest countries in the world

[@thornyback]

Looking at Asia now

[@masteryi4441]

Much love and Respect for you Yvan! Keep up the good work!

[@bigfoenation]

Why did you delete the Slavery Routes documentary from you page?

[@nanalee3683]

You are such a strong man.Don't change.Fight!This Earth need People like you!The change start with that one person in hope that others will follow for better humanty.I salute you!

[@ingridkneer8246]

What a great brave man, my admiration and respect! The world needs more people like him to become a better place, chapeau et courage!!

[@cheeseguy1327]

@easter worshipper First of all, you need to learn English before you tell anyone to stay in their own countries, second of all humans originated from Africa meaning that we have all immigrated to where we live.

[@SeeLasSee]

Yea. He seems like a very methodical and persistent man which is what is needed.

[@maureenstarr5744]

Italy is a Christian Country how can this be disgraceful

[@MD-ew1xg]

please share this as much as possible so the world knows

[@lancesay]

i love this doc, this man's story... is very similar to cesar chavez of california... the struggles of the field workers, often time no one got their back. this man's journey is just amazing.

[@emmaDurakovich]

That’s the whole Europe not just Italy...

[@momslayer66]

No its not

[@momslayer66]

@Samer Nattifi ur probably a immigrant right? They are treated better than European in Europe

[@pietrok5467]

being slave in europe is even better living in some other place in the world. true story.

[@andylumehriverofliferev.2254]

It is worsed in London.

[@MsDragonslayerprince]

Happens in Finland too even tho we have otherwise okay payrates And housing. But bad exploitation of People Who dont speak the language so well still happens.

[@desmonddessy4614]

The worst part is we the blacks we don't have agreement with each other. I still remembered that me and my friends decided not to work again in the fields simply because the money they are paying us is too small and they should sign us a contract but few of them disagree, that's life for you

[@Flex2212]

How much do you get paid and do you think is only with the Mafia that this happens or is there even more like this happening? Thank you.

[@niamakoroko1176]

They don't have to live like that I'm sure there's others that would love the opportunity I mean its not a rockstar lifestyle but you got work food and warm place to stay

[@teeteeme5752]

Yes, because they know they have something to loose. The fear of returning back to poverty.

[@berndlixfeld4404]

If only 5 Million african Slave workers including the Sex Slaves would raise their „I phones“ to Upload in „you Tube“ a Five Minute Film about their living conditions in Europe the entire trafficking industry could collapse immedeatly

[@judyruiz5710]

@@niamakoroko1176 Food and a warm place to stay??? Were you watching the same video? Did you not see the conditions they were "living" under? I wonder if you are suffering similarly to not know better.

[@azaniahd1575]

We have to build up Africa so that our people don’t need to go and be treated like this

[@jmonie02]

nah. Africa is too big.

[@martinmalecki3302]

Thats why they killed gadafi.

[@stonedecatur6602]

Too late. Africans sold out

[@BlackCoffeeee]

@@martinmalecki3302 100%

[@lukatomic8778]

This is so sad to see... I'm only 21 years old and I've seen a whole lot of messed up things, and I'm mad that I couldn't do anything about it 😔

[@kirbycairo]

If you ever wonder what a hero looks like - just look at Yvan!

[@MonaLisa-ug6wp]

Yes, an Not this German Carola Rakete who is a disgusting traffickers and hate bringing beast.

[@grim5931]

this call the withe people put the overtime everyday. right now . the life is no easy anywhere. the cost living is hard

[@joshuasaunyama6015]

Yvan is a hero indeed

[@wakayamba]

amen

[@hazza542]

It wouldn't surprise me if the government had a finger in this pie also, how else could the criminals get off the hook so easily

[@gashafashi08]

Exactly. Something is very fishy.

[@evangelesong6319]

I bet the governments own the dinghy shops.

[@Aanita75]

@@evangelesong6319 it's not the government. It's the mafia. They are already known many Yeats for their dirty business, They are to many and they are everywhere. It's the dark side of Italy

[@912324]

@@evangelesong6319 it's the government problem, but it's even your problem. Like, imagine being in front of 2 products, one costs 0.50€, the other 2.50€. Which one u choose? Which one on your daily bases would u buy, just to have 2€ to spend for your relatives. Its a system problem. Government included, mafias, me, you and everyone else on this planet

[@sk6424]

They do

[@tendai4043]

You’re a good man Yuvan May the good Lord bless you preserve you and guide you in this work you’re doing

[@angeleusebio9451]

I like DW doc. Nice and informative

[@ronniematrix89]

This is sad, activists like him should get support. This slavery needs to end. People are being overworked like animals. It's crazy..

[@marrokraff998]

To be fair many Africans are treated the same way in their own countries. Thats why the Caporali are from Africa like the Sudanese that mistreated Ivan. What's worse is they have to travel for an hour or two on unpaved life dangering roads. So Africa isn't any better in many cases, it's worse! There's no running water in these farms or electricity. And the warlords give them even less than in Italy and if the workers die of heat stroke or get killed in a mines it's simply understood as the risk for making wages. Plus they exploit any workers including paying pennies to children. And poverty drives them to work in these conditions because even the little that they make is better than nothing. Whats worse is that in some places in Africa. These workers are exposed to toxic by products either when they're working in the mines extracting minerals or recycling certain metals from electronic products. Not saying what the Caporali is doing is ethical. Just saying it is equally as bad in Africa and in many cases even worse. And this is just understood as unwritten law. Do you think that in Africa you can gather witnesses and take it to the higher court, work with local farmers and vendors to improve the safety and working conditions and get better pay lol are you kidding me? That person and their whole family will get murdered within 24 hours! So the exploitation of human slavery is already occuring in Africa. It's just being adopted in places like Italy from the brains of fellow Africans. If fellow Africans didn't exploit their own people this wouldn't happen. It's really greed that makes them cruel to their fellow man. Greed is what makes fellow Africans exploit their own people for profit and riches. Greed is what makes the Italian farmers agree with the exploitation. But that greed starts at home first in Africa because that's the origin of the exploitation since the beginning of time.

[@aluminumfoil770]

@Dean Sim ignorant and small minded individuals as yourself have never lived and never seen anything beyond your small town other than faces that look like yours. Please, you are tired of hearing about black people but you are watching this documentary. It is clear you sought knowledge and it was clouded by your inability to think critically. Even with expensive electronics with access to a lot of information, you still make stupid, uneducated remarks. What a shame. You are an abysmal representative of your area.

[@emerdigiorgio3594]

@ ronnie..The world over,my dear...

[@emerdigiorgio3594]

@@marrokraff998 Bravo!!!👏👏👏

[@emerdigiorgio3594]

DW Mind your own bisiness!!!

[@edwinreyes3998]

This exposure is why im a supporter of this channel

[@Colololp]

Honestly we probably have seasonal working like this in Germany too. Its nauseating to think that most of the products you buy are actually being produced under slave like conditiones.

[@Colololp]

@@anonymerdude4501 na man. We had Media coverage about that because of covid. It was a very dangerous place because of bad hygiene.

[@therealcomment5622]

So sad fleeing home country for a better life and ending up in a place like that.

[@SuperVostie]

what a load of bollocks by the presenter when she said, "Without the low wage workers it would be left to rot in the fields".....you are wrong madam. If these low-wage laborers were not there then the farmers would pay higher wages. These farmers are taking advantage of destitute people which is what is wrong.

[@912324]

What r u talking about? 1 tomorrow its better than nothing today. And unfortunately, its not advantage. Its a system problem

[@melelconquistador]

Idk, when the pandemic hit the restaurants, farmers around the globe destroyed their own crops because it wasn't profitable. I would imagine they would rather grow enough to profit while people starve and can't afford much food.

[@louiseanderson4653]

Absolutely

[@shauncameron8390]

And also would have to sell their produce at higher retail prices to cover the higher waged being paid.

[@sheenl1409]

This breaks my heart knowing its happening everywhere

[@blessinglavoe4603]

Brave Brother keep doing the good works, God Almighty will continue to protect you,,,,,,,love from Palermo Italy!

[@fjordhellas4077]

Your excellent reports are some of the best out there! Thank you for raising our awareness about ‘il caporato’, exploitation, slavery and how it’s translated on what we put on our plates. I realize how lucky are our Norwegian workers protected by a system that is set to preserve workers’ rights.

[@DWDocumentary]

Thank you for commenting and sharing your thoughts!

[@theluckyegg3613]

@@DWDocumentary Why do they not migrate to Simbabwe? Best farmland in the world, no white racist people there! It is heaven! Better than Europe!

[@malorgio87]

The disgusting thing is that my country allows it.Those things happen under the eyes of everyone and the government doesn't do anything

[@Ladyfaithke]

This man is a selfless great man .He will succeed in life beyond borders

[@evemason3456]

I hope so too. More power to him and people like him.

[@AboutHouseMusic]

It's sad and heartbreaking to see people get treated like this. Came across some children in Shanghai who were beggars on the street. I found out later that they'd been intentionally crippled at birth by their parents; for that very purpose. Between the sun and the moon, we will all get what's coming to us. Fact.

[@bgggsht]

Were these children blinded or what ?

[@AboutHouseMusic]

@@bgggsht Allsorts. I don't remember seeing any that were blind on the street, only in massage parlours. The more I go on about this, the more I feel like I may be putting a target on my back? If you search for 'crippled Chinese beggars' on google you'll find countless stories on the matter. They're saying that it is Chinese criminal gangs that are mostly responsible for the mutilation, either way, it shouldn't be happening at all. On the flipside of this, there are also perfectly healthy people who pretend to be crippled, because of how it helps to elicit emotion. There is so much pain and cruelty in this world. I don't believe there's any organisation out there that is helping out people in this situation. The police don't get paid enough to care. This is what 'money' has done to this planet.

[@vivianaugusta3000]

@@AboutHouseMusic this is insane. It doesn't even seem humane.

[@jenniferrobinson1353]

Dear wife don't stop pray for him God will see him through

[@Refilwe_Fifi]

Multilayers of issues here. The failure of African countries at providing basic services and opportunities for citizens to become active participants in the economy. The EU and their disastrous migrant policy have.... Big corporations exploiting farmers which leads to low profit margins which fuels the exploitation of workers in general. As consumers, we need start asking where our food comes from and the associated human cost. We are all active participants...

[@sjoerdvelzen8255]

Why disastrous migrant policy? The guy in this video came here ilegally and as a result, he's not able to find jobs and housing.

[@billstonesmith9231]

He and his companions are better off to take what they have learned about the farming business, go back home to Cameroon and then start farms and compete with their former employers. They could then vote good leaders into leadership in their own country -

[@tiermacgirl]

He is a hero. Instead of simply hating all Italians he has the heart to work for justice and improve society. He learned about the farming business for sure, but he also learned about economic slavery, and he is putting that education to use where it is needed. At personal risk he tells the truth. To suggest to such a man what would be better for him to do is to undervalue what he is already doing.

[@drmher]

I believe one of the farmers in the video was saying that they could get certain fruits and vegetables from other African countries for less to be imported to Italy. They see that as strong competition and thus try to lower the cost by not paying the farm hands. From what you say, yes maybe they could organize more; and probably better farms to sell within their own country and charge more to European stores. However, I wonder if they could face the same conditions of being without contracts, no sanitation, poor sleeping conditions etc in their own countries..?

[@theflaca]

Yeah, he should use this experience as a business feasibility study trip.

[@tammyslade1375]

Their are no great leaders

[@gee_emm]

Bill Stonesmith Have you watched DW’s documentary ‘Tomatoes and greed’? It explains very well how hard it is for farmers in Ghana to compete with subsidised imports from China and India. Many countries have the same situation. Globalisation is no friend to the small farmer. It isn’t so simple.

[@Dog-bb8hr]

Yvan Sagnet is an inspiration. I admire his bravery and activism for positive change. He is a voice for the voiceless!

[@babbler1488]

These same africans will still tell their brothers at home that they working and earning euros thus increasing the pull factor of crossing the seas

[@ahhhhhlive]

People should be able to live where they want. They only move to earn a living.

[@babbler1488]

@@ahhhhhlive illegally or legally?

[@setiyoung1611]

@@ahhhhhlive That is an extremely privilaged mindset that not a lot of people get to have. Remember that.

[@renees1021]

I am just learning of this. Will share wih my people to increase awareness. May GOD send to you all some relief.

[@beelauren7711]

Such a brave man, I applaud his courage. Turning a blind eye is how many injustices flourish.

[@charangandi2305]

Good job buddy….! Will forward this video to as many as I can.

[@ekeneo1252]

You're free to reject the work. It's not slavery. In slavery, you're held against your will.

[@Mamienapower]

Clearly you don't know how these things work smh

[@mphongobeni5946]

The agents keep their passport.

[@tonjirucker999]

And physical abuse doesn't begin simy with striking another human being. It begins with manipulation, isolation, and control over people's access and resources to make free choices. One of the many interdependent catalysts, and oldest means of the all- encompassing evils of SLAVERY.

[@shmaisrael]

Thank God Almighty for sending a courageous, brave and bold man to stand against bullies, I'm so happy the country wasn't against him. No one had ever tried stoping it. Change comes slowly, but it will eventually come 👍👍👍👍👍 The Lord bless you my brother, and bless and protects your family

[@mar-veldc9497]

I love reading the comments section. It’s fun and at the same time i get to see people’s reactions and insights about this video. Keep it coming. 👌

[@spivak4342]

As much as I sympathise with that man, it was his choice to move there. There is injustice everywhere

[@Inayah-jy8qb]

a choice with the hope for a better future, not being treated poorly, besides that these people dont have much of a choice as they dont have the same priviliges as others. With my dutch pp I have much higher chance of getting a well paid job.

[@lickmynuts2294]

Yup, say what you will about the mexican migrants but they work hard and they don’t b**ch

[@budselectgoesoff]

womp womp

[@kelly9714]

This is a wonderful man.. extremely brave too. However, he looks extremely sad 😞 I hope this is due to the whole scenario and not a personal thing 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@ankaldally2734]

I love africa and i shall always stay here.

[@declancurry4479]

I love Europe and do not want it to become like the USA. There is high unemployment in Italy Africans should keep out South Africa is a better option for them

[@MB-nb7yq]

@@declancurry4479 There’s so many white people in Namibia and South Africa who own almost all the land but you’re so worried about black people migrating. We don’t steal land like your folks do. America was never even white. They stole it and now complain that country is majority brown. Tell your folks to get out of the North/South America , Australia, Namibia and South Africa before asking Africans to keep out of Europe.

[@iram9111]

Than you are a true warrior!

[@declancurry4479]

@@MB-nb7yq There are few White people in Sub Saharan Africa just 0.55% of a population of over 1.1 BILLION . Take away the 4.5 Million in South Africa (going down every year) and they are more or less non existent.

[@elizabethbalazs7322]

I love Africa too but my s..n c...r is telling me you are not welcome there

[@mizulightblue]

It's the same in whole Europe. I have seen something very similar like this in Finland and also Sweden

[@mb-hn1pq]

in Finland??? lol

[@roseasmr3490]

No not in sweden

[@Pschokid]

@@roseasmr3490 the crack down on human exploitation and trafficking is not an easy feat. It's not the same as in the video but it exist. I know since I see some of it through work. Like right now for example, we are screening everyone from Ukraine extra clearly

[@christopherosita5752]

So? The evil should continue?🤷🏽‍♀️

[@bridgeofpeace5697]

I though finland is paradise 🤷‍♀️

[@jackiebiskan4748]

anyone know if the place that they stay at 15:05 is history like roman or something?

[@bgggsht]

Nah, italians just live in rubble and call it "culture" ;)

[@anonymously_me1803]

When he said 40 people.....My mind boggled! I could not imagine!

[@getreadynow647]

It's sad he had to go through troubles. But since he did he now works to make things better and now he has an up close understanding of the system. May God continue to bless him and his family.

[@williamtukei1488]

Come back to Africa some countries have improved alot

[@pseudorealityisreal]

Really? How? By being a slave to a dictator?

[@obrenpon]

Our problem in Africa begins from untrust between the countries. You cannot even travel from one country to another without visas and roadblocks. Yet we grant Visa free status to too many non African countries

[@lebohangmofokeng4480]

I think Rwanda is their best bet there is still racism in south Africa towards black even though blacks are the majority

[@luciphorghost6169]

Facts

[@lienbijs1205]

By the help of Western countries😃

[@wildyam474]

No one is ever forced to enslave and abuse others. No matter what the industry is saying, you always have a choice.

[@justing1810]

Alot of farms in America treat their workers in a similar fasion.

[@AccentYouLovingheart]

SMH

[@wendellanderson279]

Especially sharecropping

[@justing1810]

@@wendellanderson279 Do people still sharecrop?

[@angelobugini6771]

Farmhand or slave? is definitely an extraordinary documentary! I truly did appreciate it so much. Thanks a lot for sharing! Keep it up!

[@tapsirusaccoh67]

God bless this brother that is highlighting the plight of the forgotten people

[@baabashop]

You can't imagine how many times I've seen these poor people in the fields back in Calabria. The fact is that the mafia is so strong that they already have every threat on their payroll (1) and no private is ether strong enough nor safe enough to genuinely stop this abuse (2).

[@bridecolbourne1305]

Good man 👍👍🙏🏼❤️

[@razor2k911]

Thank you for this Yvan. You are one brave human being.

[@bahlawiboy8909]

He said he was being treated like a slave and the Masters were from their own country what am I missing here

[@budselectgoesoff]

white people bad

[@JisooKim-wo3if]

Watching this in 2021. I really hope Yvan and his efforts have gained much ground and made improvements for the migrant workers.

[@africa3627]

You need to fly to South Italy check out yourself

[@MrANama]

This is my first time seeing Africa in Europe. Thank you DW Documentary for showing us the Dark Side of these Rich countries

[@Sldmax]

Do a documentary of how they live in Cameroon . Would like to see what they are fleeing that makes them leave and live like this . Sad

[@gee_emm]

Sammy Extreme poverty. Subsidised imports that local farmers cannot compete with. DW have already made the ‘Tomatoes and Greed’ documentary which sets it all out.

[@Sldmax]

They are free to leave anytime . Why stay if so bad .

[@gee_emm]

Sammy Sometimes they do not have enough money to leave. They use all their savings to make the journey and earn much less than they had hoped to.

[@aristolehilary3741]

@@Sldmax you’re ignorant and racist. F*uck off

[@kinglar]

@@aristolehilary3741 why is that racist? , but i bet everything is racist to you .

[@mra6308]

that's not slavery. That's exploitation.

[@bak3456]

You must not know that criminal organisations control these farms they can’t just leave

[@sabcam2000]

You don't physically abuse people in case of exploitation

[@AllIsWellaus]

What can New Zealanders do? From what I've seen on my modest grocery run is olive oil and canned tomatoes which some come from. How can we as consumers help? It angers me that the West is still gaining employment from the African continent through this specific labour. Its disgraceful.

[@mariekatherine5238]

There used to be migrant worker shanty towns on Eastern Long Island, peopled by mainly very poor Black families from the south. As a kid, I had a fascination with them when I saw many children playing at one of them. I wanted to play with them and see what it was like to live in such a place. They seemed to be having fun playing some sort of a chanting circle game. I wished to join in. I recall being a bit shocked, but also fascinated that the trailers of old box trucks were lived in as houses. What did they look like inside? Some may still exist, out of sight as the conditions of the 1950s and 1960s would hardly be tolerated. Today’s migrant workers are mainly Spanish speaking people.

[@stephanezick4658]

Love this guy , good human ❤️

[@kellysomad]

You knew that this man received a death threat and yet you went to his home and exposed it to the world where & how he lives. Such a journalism.

[@tasneemhayati092]

Yeah a very big mistake

[@florencewhits7251]

Sometimes I wonder if they use d money gotten from youtube views to help dz people

[@josephfast5887]

@@florencewhits7251 never.

[@budselectgoesoff]

womp womp

[@felicitascunningham9008]

I hope this brave young man is safe

[@soraya1132]

There are so many people worldwide who truly care Evan I promise you. So many people are backing you following you and want to help. Remember there are more good people than bad. It's just they get the floor all the time

[@maximhollandnederlandthene7640]

Show this on Dutch TV please ! The grass isn't greener at the neighbour's garden.

[@aimeekleine8764]

MAXIM Nederland is een mooi land, mensen gaan goed met elkaar. Iedereen lief en aardig. iedereen is gelijk hier en mensen krijg gelijk kans

[@allthingssandyjo5501]

I agree with you!

[@siegghynss5742]

Juist

[@joycipowerrr7061]

Leugen!

[@ceeceepollidore7226]

You are right , make their way to , Europe to find a better life , the grass is not greenin neighbor garden ,

[@maureengordon309]

Well done Yvan! Well done!!! This needs to be done all over the world. It is horrible in North America as well.

[@hzubovi1]

As an European citizen I am wondering which brands of Italian tomatoes are Ok to buy

[@MegaGraceiscool]

Alright, I finished this whole documentary. Thanks again, DW, for bringing to light an issue I- a factory worker and student in Small Town USA- never once considered. For those of you who are surfing the comments section and don't want to watch the full video, here's the heart of the issue: workers' rights. The supermarket industry forces prices down to international levels, and Italians can't compete. Because of that, the Italian farmers hire migrants and pay them very little. Then they cut into the migrants' wages through extortion for things such as transportation (30 people in a small van with no open windows), bedding (10 euros for a rotten mattress), and basic necessities (1.5 euros for a shower)- which results in migrants making next to nothing. And if a migrant worker happens to faint from heat exhaustion, lack of water, or getting beaten by gangsters on the job, then too bad for him. According to the Italian farmers' organization Yvan works with, all of this is a problem which could easily be solved by supermarket chains paying Italian farms 2¢ more for the produce they cultivate. So again, this is not slavery on paper, but because of the surrounding circumstances in which migrants are subjected to abuse and extortion, it is in practice.

[@aron8659]

and it's still 100x better then the place they came from, it's a difficult job with low pay, but to say it's slavery it's an immoral lie...they can leave any moment they want. Not to mention that migrants complaining about low wages is interesting, given their larger numbers cause wages to go down in a free market economy, if they weren't there, these jobs would be paid more or not exist.

[@links-gut-versifftergrunme1809]

Thank you for this summary. I see this exactly like you and I think this comment section would be way better of to talk and discuss about general working conditions for *all* people working in our countries and criticize companies and missing laws, that allow something like this even happening. Instead you see how people just blame migrants for working their asses of in the heat of the italian sun so some people can earn a lot of money by seeling their tomatoes for a prize way bellow what the work was actually worth and the goverment just watching over it, because they are no italian citizens...

[@SecondTake123]

@@aron8659 This is true, but honestly a lot of these immigrants work jobs I would never consider. It would be best if the Economy were better in their home countries.

[@CodzillaTheOriginal]

It's pretty easy to piss on migrants, or to allow exploitation on this level because it means that you pay less at the grocers for your food. In essence, you're enjoying the fruits of exploitation because citizens of most countries would not do this sort of job under the same conditions as a migrant worker. Perhaps paying $15 per tomato would be more to your liking, which would represent the cost of domestic labor and the profit margin necessary to keep these farms afloat. It would also do away with migrant workers, and that seems to bode well with the posters here. In the alternate, you could just shut down all your farms and import from another country. Let Cameroon build farms and sell tomatoes to Italy.

[@JASDKA1]

KZbin needs more people like you.

[@daveyputri4312]

Brave men. Bravo! Keep on good work.

[@RandomPersonette]

May god bless and protect Yvan Sagnet and people who put themselves on the line to make the world a better place.

[@potatoenjoyer5255]

If these people, who are truly being exploited under those horrible working conditions, can walk away from this job the next day and quit, then there are NOT in a condition of slavery.

[@kylehodson8542]

I'm glad someone said it, this isn't Slavery. Its horrible working conditions but if they are getting compensated and can come and go as they please its not slavery.

[@ruthtesfay6320]

He is busy doing amazing job. I seen soo money people thinking only about themselves I mean he could ignore continue with his life but still fighting for others God bless him he got good heart 👍🏾👍🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾

[@vernonmartindale6016]

Absolutely unbelievable. I thought humanity left this kind of thing behind

[@mariogarofano9926]

this is the reality of most undocumented migrants under capitalism in Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Germany, etc. It has been going on for a long time with close to no end in sight due to the state's unwillingness to solve the issues at hand. The system we have in place thrives off workers' exploitation, since the goal is the accumulation of capital, and not setting standards of living for all of us. If abusing precarious individuals results in higher profits, in a system where that is the only goal, while assuring proper salaries and living standards results in a significant loss in profits, these horrible behaviors will sadly remain unchanged.

[@amnewyork516]

If the farm owner's hands were forced, why are they fighting so hard to maintain this system rather than fight for the prices they feel they deserve? There is no excuse for treating a human being this way, this is horrific. The birthplace of Columbus up to its old tricks again. Shameful.

[@luisalay187]

Is shameful, despicable and totally inaceptable in modern times. To see such a smart an intelligent person doing that for betterment and help create a healthy environment for others. . every person regarless his or her social status must be treated humanly as each of us deserve and more if we work hard for whatever reason

[@AdrianCalgary]

Meanwhile there are festivals with Tomatoes Fights throughout Spain and Italy wasting millions of tons of Tomatoes to keep prices up

[@dianaNia81]

Here in South Africa i have always purchased canned pomodoros (tomatoes) from Italy, little did i know i was helping support a filthy modern day enslavement of my fellow Africans. No more. I'm boycotting all Italian tomato produce

[@batuloamiyo7494]

Adrian Calgary )

[@syrayousuf7434]

Shut up !!! Its our culture