VOA标准英语2009年-IOM: Moroccan Migrants Say They Are Being

The International Organization for Migration¹ says about 1,000 Moroccan migrants who came to Italy with the promise of seasonal² work, are living in squalid conditions on abandoned farms. IOM says the migrants were lured³ to Italy with false promises of employment.

The International Organization for Migration says the Moroccan men are living in abandoned structures in San Nicola Varco, a town about 100 kilometers south of Naples, with no running water or electricity.
　
Immigrants walk holding a banner, partially⁴ readable, reading: 'stop expulsion,' as they stage a demonstration⁵ in Rome (File)

IOM Spokesman Jean-Philippe Chauzy says the migrants were duped into coming to Italy by recruiting agents in Morocco, who promised them regular seasonal labor⁶ contracts once they arrived.

"So, they actually left Morocco mostly it seems with tourist visas," he said. "The idea was, once they would get to Italy with a proper work contract, they would be able to regularize their stay. The issue here is that false promises were made, it seems, in Morocco by intermediaries, rogue⁷ intermediaries. And, when they got to Italy, the employers did not materialize, or refused to give a contract. So, those migrants found themselves in a very difficult situation, and, eventually, most of them became irregular migrants."

Chauzy says, without proper papers, migrants said they were being exploited by unscrupulous employers who paid them 15 to 25 euros a day to work 12 hours in nearby greenhouses and fields, but charged them for services, such as water, and three euros each day for transport to the fields.

Chauzy says the agency is now working with the Italian authorities to provide assistance or help returning home.

Illegal labor is a widespread problem in Italy, especially in the agricultural sector⁸. Official statistics show the informal sector accounts for nearly 18 percent of the country's gross domestic product.

1 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

2 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

3 lured   

吸引，引诱（lure的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• The child was lured into a car but managed to escape. 那小孩被诱骗上了车，但又设法逃掉了。
• Lured by the lust of gold,the pioneers pushed onward. 开拓者在黄金的诱惑下，继续奋力向前。

4 partially   

adv.部分地，从某些方面讲

参考例句：

• The door was partially concealed by the drapes.门有一部分被门帘遮住了。
• The police managed to restore calm and the curfew was partially lifted.警方设法恢复了平静，宵禁部分解除。

5 demonstration   

n.表明，示范，论证，示威

参考例句：

• His new book is a demonstration of his patriotism.他写的新书是他的爱国精神的证明。
• He gave a demonstration of the new technique then and there.他当场表演了这种新的操作方法。

6 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

7 rogue   

n.流氓；v.游手好闲

参考例句：

• The little rogue had his grandpa's glasses on.这淘气鬼带上了他祖父的眼镜。
• They defined him as a rogue.他们确定他为骗子。

8 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。