Three of the world’s largest tobacco manufacturers, Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Imperial Brands, are buying leaves that could have been picked by exploited African migrants working in Italy’s multi-million euro industry. Philip Morris alone purchased 21,000 tons of the 50,000 tons harvested that year. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The GuardianBetween 405,000 and 500,000 migrants work in Italy’s agricultural sector, about half the total workforce. Philip Morris alone has invested €1bn over the past five years and has investment plans on the same scale for the next two years. Since 2011, Philip Morris, which buys the majority of tobacco in Campania, has signed agreements to purchase tobacco directly from ONT Italia.

Source: The Guardian May 31, 2019 06:00 UTC