PROJECTS
AREA OF Migration, trafficking and exploitation

AGAR I - Take action and assist in the network against trafficking in Lazio

SUMMARY

The project "AGAR I - Take action and assist in the network against trafficking in Lazio" is funded by the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministries, under the projects ex Art.18 Legislative Decree 286/98, and co-financed the Lazio Region - Department of Social Policy.

The service is aimed at non-EU and EU immigrants, women and men and transgender persons, who are victims of trafficking for serious sexual and labour exploitation.

Specifically, the Parsec Cooperative manages interventions targeting victims of severe labour exploitation.

By severe labour exploitation, it means all forms of exploitation made in any professional field (from the national construction industry, agriculture, catering, in manufacturing plants, in small and large factories, etc.), as well as part of begging and illegal activities. On the basis of the degree of protection and the possibility of negotiation enjoyed by the worker, it is possible to   identify different degrees of exploitation within a range from moonlighting, underpaid and done under irregular conditions, arriving at real slave-like situations.

The main objective of the 'AGAR I' project is the interception and emergence of the phenomenon of trafficking for labour exploitation, as well as awareness-raising activities, information and training between the operators and the services - public and private - on the phenomenon of the type of 'slave' work.

NAME

"AGAR I - Take action and assist in the network against trafficking in Lazio"

RECIPIENTS

Victims of trafficking for the purpose of severe labour exploitation

METHOD OF FINANCING

Funded by: Department for Equal Opportunities

Co-funded by: Lazio region

References of law: Art. 13 L.228/2003

AREA OF INTERVENTION

Lazio region (excluding the province of Rome)

BRIEF HISTORY

Parsec began to deal with the issue of trafficking since 1999, thanks to the financing of the projects Art. 18 paid to the City of Rome by the Department for Equal Opportunities within the Programme of assistance and social integration in favour of women and child victims of trafficking for sexual exploitation, under the provisions of Legislative Decree 286/98.

Since 2006, however, it has specifically addressed severe labour exploitation with its "Right Job" project. Born as an experimental project within the circle of projects under Art.18 Legislative Decree 286/98, funded by the Department for Equal Opportunities, the "Right Job" project has extended its activities over the years from only the area of Rome to the other provinces of Lazio.

The project has enabled a thorough research on the phenomenon in Rome and in the other provinces of Lazio, involving all local actors in a job that is mapping, knowledge, awareness and training while maintaining, at the same time, special attention to the emergence and taking care of the victims.

From the survey carried out on the subject of labour exploitation came the publication "Right Job. Work without rights. Trafficking and labour exploitation of immigrants in Rome and Lazio". In 2012, finally, a documentary entitled "The Good Master" was made, which tells about the working conditions of the Indians from the Punjab region employed as labourers in the countryside of the province of Latina.

The experience of the project 'Right Job' closed in 2011 but the activities continue in continuity with the Project 'Agar I'.

OBJECTIVES

The project has the following objectives:

• To identify and bring out the largest possible number of people exploited, make them aware of their rights, give them the opportunity to become part of social protection programmes - if they meet the criteria;
• To launch work on monitoring the phenomenon of trafficking for labour exploitation in the provinces of Latina, Frosinone, Rieti and Viterbo. The aim is to have a vision, as complete as possible, of the phenomenon and also locate the differences in the various territories in terms of nationalities - at greater risk of exploitation - and commodity sector employment;
• To raise awareness and increase the competence and attention to crucial actors in the paths of the emergence and exile of the victims (police, labour inspectorates, trade unions, associations, operators of the 'listening ' counters, aimed at immigrants, health workers, etc.), creating a model of interaction and partnership between the different agencies.

METHODOLOGY OF INTERVENTION

The project is focused on enabling networking processes aimed at mapping, awareness and public and private training agencies, in the area. Through a systematic and rigorous network subjects are, in fact, involved, who for various reasons impacting with the phenomenon of severe labour exploitation which, as they are aware and informed, they can contribute effectively to the emergence of potential victims and direct them towards the shelter and social protection.

Two types of information material are used: the first is specifically targeted at potential victims of labour exploitation, translated into nine languages, the purpose of which is to reach those people who, because of the vulnerability and social isolation in which they are and, in most cases, do not speak Italian, in a more timely and effective manner; the second is aimed at the services and, among other things, highlighting the main indicators of severe labour exploitation, thus enabling service operators to recognize the elements characterizing the serious exploitation.

TOOLS AND ACTIVITIES

The service offers:

• welcoming talks
• decoding the application
• legal assistance
• health support
• linguistic-cultural mediation
• sending the recognized victims to the welcoming projects
• sending all the pertaining cases that are not included in the target to the local services
• raising awareness on the issue of severe labour exploitation to all agencies - public and private - which impact with potential victims in any capacity and which can therefore be sensitive agents in the territory, thus helping to promote the emergence of the victims of labour exploitation, which, by their nature, often remain invisible.

NETWORK AND TERRITORY

The project is active in the territori of the Lazio region, excluding the province of Rome.

One of the objectives of the project is the creation of a widespread culture on the problem of severe labour exploitation, the extension of the phenomenon, its implications for society as a whole, the knowledge of the tools to protect victims. In this sense, the strength of the project is the activation of forms of mutual knowledge, networking, and exchange with a very wide range of services, both institutional and non-institutional.

Collaborations have been initiated with: Police, Labour Inspectorates, Trade Unions, Associations and private social entities, career guidance centres, service centres for immigrants, operators of the 'listening' counters for immigrants, outpatient clinics for foreigners, Social Services of the Municipalities and all the organizations that in various ways may impact with the phenomenon of severe labour exploitation. An awareness intervention and information on the phenomenon, which is necessary during the identification of victims, has been made, against all the territorial agencies contacted, institutional or otherwise.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE

The project team is composed of psychologists, social workers, linguistic-cultural mediators and lawyers.

CONTACTS

Tel. (00 39) 348.9945653
E-mail: right.job@libero.it