The conditions of the worker who ended up under the Torre dei Conti, which collapsed miserably, were very serious from the first moment. Then he didn’t make it. An investigation has been opened for disaster and manslaughter, but in Italy the workplace massacre does not stop.
Him, Octay Stroici66 years old, remained under the rubble for 11 hours following the collapse of part of the tower at the Fori Imperiali, is “only” one of the victims of fatal accidents at work. Yesterday alone, five new deaths were recorded in several regions, bringing the total to 777 deaths since January 2025. With an average of almost three deaths every day, the situation has become unsustainable.
Yesterday’s victims were workers and farmers, who fell unacceptably in the workplace. From Naples to Crevoladossola, in Piedmont, from Brescia to San Giorgio Piacentino, all fatal accidents that add to a dramatic statistical picture.
INAIL data updated to 30 September show that, in the first nine months of 2025, 777 fatal accidents were reported, with an increase of 0.9% compared to the same period in 2024. Campania emerges as one of the most affected regions, with 84 victims, of which 28 between Naples and the province. This places it in third place, after Lombardy and Veneto, according to data from the CGIL of Naples and Campania.
A 900 million euro decree
Faced with an increasingly dramatic reality, with the massacre at work showing no signs of stopping, the government has decided to intervene with a decree law which allocates 900 million euros to increase safety in the workplace. An amount intended to finance measures which, if implemented seriously, could lead to significant change.
One of the main innovations introduced concerns the mandatory construction site badge: every worker employed in client, contracting and subcontracting companies will have to wear an identification card with a unique code, designed to combat the scourge of counterfeiting and guarantee that those who work are truly in compliance.
In addition to this, the decree also provides incentives for virtuous companies, rewarding those that operate in compliance with regulations and good safety practices. A further measure that stands out concerns support for the families of the victims: scholarships of up to 7,000 euros will be allocated for the orphans of those who lost their lives at work, offering them concrete hope for the future. But not only that. The law also provides for the strengthening of controls, with a significant increase in labor inspectors and Carabinieri, to ensure that regulations are respected and that safety conditions are finally an absolute priority. Although these measures are a first step, the question many are asking is: will they really be enough to stop the loss of human lives?
What’s wrong
Obviously, there is no shortage of doubts. Trade unions, particularly the CGIL, are skeptical about the effectiveness of these measures. Despite the recognition of the government’s good intentions, the trade union organization highlights how, in the long term, these solutions may not be sufficient to tackle the root of the problem. According to the CGIL, the heart of the issue lies not so much in new technologies or rewards for virtuous companies, but in the need for a structural change in the business model that fueled this tragedy.
Insecurity, the abuse of cascade subcontracting and the continuous failure to respect national collective labor agreements are the real culprits of this massacre, and the proposed solutions do not address these aspects decisively.
One card or one more check is not enough to stop a chain that is based on practices of exploitation and inequality. In this scenario, the proposal of Roberto Fico, former President of the Chamber and candidate for the center-left in Campania, also emerges, relaunching the idea of a Public Prosecutor’s Office ad hoc for safety on construction sites.
In a country that has seen too many deaths at work, it is no longer acceptable that the system continues to turn a blind eye to a development model that does not protect the lives of those who work. In short, safety must become an absolute priority, not only to avoid new tragedies, but to restore dignity to those who risk their lives every day for a salary.
