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A new training project for vineyard workers has started in Piedmont. The private "Accademia della Vigna" of the Weco company is a pilot project and aims to combat the problems of seasonal workers in Piedmont's vineyards. It is supported by the Protection Consortium for Barolo, Barbaresco, Alba, Langhe and Dogliani and other institutions. The project officially started in September 2022, but has now been presented to the public during a panel discussion at the Grandi Langhe event in Alba.
"The project was launched in collaboration with some farms in the Langhe. These provide didactic vineyards where the trainees learn their skills under the guidance of some of the best agronomists in Piedmont who specialise in viticulture. The project has already started and will cover the entire vegetative cycle of the vine, from pruning to harvesting," explained Angelo Perez, CEO and co-founder of Weco.
The wineries involved include Vietti****, Ceretto, E.Pira - Chiara Boschis and Conterno Fantino*****. Weco not only wants to train the workers, but also to place them with wineries in compliance with social and ethical principles.
According to estimates, there are around 230,000 irregularly employed agricultural workers in Italy, including 55,000 women. Many of the harvest workers come from Africa or Eastern Europe and are paid far below the prescribed rates. Agricultural enterprises often have to overcome extremely high bureaucratic hurdles in order to employ the workers regularly. The so-called "agromafia" organises fictitious cooperatives in many regions of Italy to conceal the exploitation of the workers.
(ru / Source: Millevigne; Photo: 123rf.com)