Human Trafficking for Labour Exploitation in Agriculture: Legal and Institutional Responses in Brazil and Italy

This thesis explores the implementation of the Palermo Protocol’s provisions on human trafficking for the purpose of labour exploitation in the agricultural sectors of Brazil and Italy. Both nations have ratified the Protocol and incorporated it into their legal systems, alongside adopting key international labour conventions. Nevertheless, enduring institutional and structural weaknesses hinder the effective enforcement of anti-trafficking and labour protection policies. The research examines how each country addresses severe labour exploitation in rural contexts by focusing on emblematic judicial cases: the Fazenda Brasil Verde case in Brazil and two proceedings on caporalato in Italy (Latina and Nardò). Using a qualitative legal and policy analysis, the study evaluates national laws, institutional mechanisms, and victim protection systems, highlighting how agricultural labour remains marked by informality, migrant vulnerability, and weak enforcement. The findings highlight persistent enforcement gaps and vulnerabilities in both countries, underscoring the need for stronger victim identification procedures, coordinated inspections, and effective application of labour rights.