Migrant death in Italy spurs farm work ban in hottest hours

ROME (AP) — Outdoor farm work under the afternoon sun on particularly hot days has been banned in a southern Italian region following the death of a migrant who fell ill while toiling in a field and collapsed.

Governor Michele Emiliano, who leads the Puglia region in the ”heel” of the Italian peninsula, signed an ordinance on Saturday that forbids farm work from 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. through August on days that are particularly torrid.

A 27-year-old migrant from Mali felt ill last week as he worked as a day labourer in a farm field, left work and collapsed and died as he was pedalling his bike on the nearly 10-mile route to his residence.

The governor in his ordinance noted that some recent weeks in Puglia have seen days where the temperature hit 40 C (104 F).

At least two mayors in Puglia, including in the port city of Brindisi, had adopted similar measures earlier in the week.

The cause of the man's death on Thursday was under investigation.

His death recalled that of a 49-year-old Italian woman who succumbed to a heart attack while working in a vineyard in Puglia in 2015.

Her death drew attention to the harsh conditions Italian and foreign workers endure for long shifts as they pick fruit and vegetables and tend fields for a few euros per hour.

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