Sandeep, a 42-year-old graduate from Rajasthan, India, fulfilled his dream of moving to Italy in 2009 for a better life. However, in late 2015, he lost his job and faced the risk of losing his residency permit. Desperate for work, Sandeep paid a 5,000-euro fee to an acquaintance who promised him a job with a logistics cooperative. Unfortunately, the conditions of the job were akin to forced labor – working long hours with no sick leave or job security. Sandeep shared a cramped apartment with 10 others in Padua, paying 330 euros per month. Fearing becoming an illegal migrant, he accepted the harsh conditions.
This exploitation was part of a larger scheme orchestrated by Tara Chand Tanwar, an Indian citizen from Rajasthan, who charged hundreds of Indian citizens exorbitant fees to secure jobs in Italy. Tanwar, known as Taru, built a criminal organization that used mafia-like tactics to trap workers in dire conditions. Italian authorities finally caught up with Tanwar, ordering the seizure of assets worth 750,000 euros and preparing to indict him on undisclosed charges.
Despite the wealth in Rajasthan, high unemployment rates push many to seek opportunities abroad. Tanwar became a go-to figure for those looking to migrate to Italy, despite not having the necessary licenses. Workers recruited by Tanwar were unaware of the rules and found themselves in debt to him, forced to stay in subpar living conditions in apartments he owned.
Many workers were assigned to warehouses in Belfiore, working for cooperatives owned by Tanwar that supplied services to major food retailers in northern Italy. The workers faced insufficient food and had to buy extra to avoid starvation. Some workers, like Amir, faced intimidation and violence from Tanwar when they couldn’t pay additional fees. Despite the evidence against him, many are too afraid to press charges against Tanwar, likening him to a mafia figure.
Finally, in 2018, a worker reported Tanwar to authorities, leading to investigations and court proceedings. Tanwar’s connections to politicians and law enforcement in India were exposed, but the fear he instilled in his victims kept many from speaking out. The exploitation of Indian migrant workers in Italy highlights the vulnerabilities in migration laws and the need for stronger protections for those seeking better opportunities overseas.