"Workers Speak Out: Hours Paid at 4 Euro, Sleeping Quarters in Basements" or "Seasonal Laborers' Struggles: Earning 4 Euro Per Hour, Basement Housing"

Users are sharing accounts of similar work experiences following the young animator's report, labeling it as exploitation in comments beneath posts on our site.

, and Administrator

2025 August 28 . 2:23 PM

2 min read

Minimum Wage and Substandard Living Conditions: The Accounts of Temporary Workers

"Workers Speak Out: Hours Paid at 4 Euro, Sleeping Quarters in Basements" or "Seasonal Laborers' Struggles: Earning 4 Euro Per Hour, Basement Housing"

In the heart of Italy, a young animator named Gilberto, working for a 4-star hotel in Rimini, has sparked a wave of conversation, denouncing his wage of just 3 euros an hour and degrading housing conditions on social media. His story, along with others, highlights severe exploitation in seasonal work, particularly in the agriculture and tourism sectors.

Gilberto's denunciation went viral on Tik Tok, receiving over a million views, shedding light on the extreme end of these exploitative practices. He was not the only one facing such challenges. Roberta, a former cleaner, earned 4 euros an hour and was required to clean 4 rooms in an hour. Another user, a lifeguard named Elena, expressed concerns about the responsibilities she had, receiving 1,200 euros for 48 weekly hours.

These issues are not unique to a few isolated cases. Some companies offer part-time jobs that end up being full-time, with one user stating they worked 6 days a week, from 8 to 12, and more hours a day for around 700 euros a month, with no vacation, sick leave, day off, or rights.

The story of Gilberto also reveals the poor enforcement and inadequate labor protections, despite the Italian government’s Decreto Flussi program, which aims to legally facilitate employment for non-EU seasonal workers for up to nine months. However, many workers, like Gilberto, face exploitation on the ground.

Daniele worked in a hotel with a tiny room carved out of a staircase where four people slept and shared a bathroom with the entire staff. A Tik Tok user was placed in a hotel room full of ants and was subsequently fired. These conditions have been widely reported by NGOs and advocacy groups as emblematic of broader systemic problems in Italy’s seasonal labor markets, including underpayment, long working hours without proper contracts, and substandard living conditions.

Despite official government initiatives increasing seasonal work visas—in agriculture and hospitality reaching roughly 93,550 seasonal visas planned for 2025—these numbers do not necessarily reflect improvements in working conditions or housing standards for workers. Seasonal workers often originate from less privileged backgrounds and face language barriers and limited legal recourse.

Francesca, another user, disagrees with those who justify low pay with the formative nature of the experience, stating they are part of the problem. Giorgio, another user, stated that lifeguards are not paid adequately, with a base pay of 6.50 euros an hour and 8 euros in the second year, despite the great responsibilities and potential risks involved.

However, not all stories are grim. Valeria, who worked as an animator for four seasons, considers it the best job of her life. Marco, who worked as an animator, agrees that the work experience is a great life lesson for those who can adapt to valid hygienic-sanitary conditions.

In conclusion, while Italy provides structured visa pathways for seasonal work under Decreto Flussi, stories of underpaid workers forced into degrading housing—like the animator earning 3 euros an hour in moldy housing—continue to expose significant flaws in the protection of seasonal workers’ rights in Italy. These conditions remain a concern for labor rights organizations advocating for better enforcement and reforms.