ITALY’S tax police have freed 33 Indian farm workers from “slave-like working conditions” in the northern province of Verona.

The authorities also seized almost €500,000 (around £420,000) from the two alleged gangmasters.

Police said on Saturday that the two alleged abusers, also Indian, had persuaded their fellow nationals to come to Italy, paying €17,000 (£14,300) each to obtain seasonal working permits.

The men were then obliged to work on farms for seven days a week and up to 12 hours a day, paid only €4 per hour (around £3.40).

Some of the migrants were also asked to pay an additional €13,000 (£10,950) for a permanent work permit, which in reality they would have never obtained, the police added.

The two alleged abusers are under investigation for crimes such as enslavement and labour exploitation. The victims will be offered protection, job opportunities and legal residency papers.

The issue of modern forms of slavery in Italy came under the spotlight recently following the case of Indian farm labourer Satnam Singh, who bled to death after being abandoned by his employer in front of his house after his arm had been severed by a wrapping machine.