Teen Moroccan Worker Dies in Factory Accident in Italy

Rabat — A 17-year-old Moroccan teenager reportedly died last Friday after being critically injured at a woodworking factory in Nocera Inferiore, Italy. Reports of the teenager’s death have triggered a manslaughter investigation targeting four individuals working at the company, according to the Italian newspaper Il Mattino.  Prosecutors believe the teenager was crushed by a machine equipped with a belt and roller while working without a contract on what appears to have been his first day on the job, the newspaper reported. Despite emergency medical intervention, the young man died approximately 30 minutes after arriving at the intensive care unit of Umberto I hospital. Local media said that an autopsy and technical inspections of the machine involved in the accident are underway to shed light on the circumstances of the horrible incident. As part of the investigation, the Carabinieri Territorial Department has stepped in to talk with witnesses and conducted initial examinations at the worksite. The four suspects include the company’s judicial administrator, legal representative, and two administrators who served as employer and employee. They face potential charges of manslaughter and failure to comply with workplace safety regulations. Authorities had all four formally notified of the investigation to allow them to appoint their own consultants for the upcoming technical analyses. Primary investigations report that the teenager was working “under the table” without proper documentation. The boy reportedly received no safety training, was not informed about workplace risks, and lacked appropriate protective equipment. The case raises ongoing concerns about illegal employment of minors and workplace safety violations in the region. Investigators are still determining what specific duties the boy was assigned at the factory and how he came to work there. Local authorities have reportedly urged other businesses to ensure compliance with labor laws and safety protocols, particularly regarding the employment of vulnerable workers, including minors.