Italy's President Mattarella reflects on Marcinelle disaster: "The battle against exploitation continues to be critical"
On August 8, Italy observes the National Day of Italian Workers' Sacrifice, a day of remembrance for the Marcinelle mining tragedy of 1956. This tragic event took the lives of 262 miners, including 136 Italians, and serves as a poignant reminder of the harsh conditions and sacrifices faced by Italian migrant workers.
The tragedy unfolded on August 8, 1956, in the Bois du Cazier coal mine in Marcinelle, Belgium. An electrical fire, caused by ruptured electric cables, led to a lethal blaze that trapped miners deep underground. Rescue efforts were delayed, and it took two weeks for the first official assessment to confirm that all trapped miners had perished.
The Marcinelle disaster had a profound impact on Italian emigration history, highlighting the dangerous and often exploitative working conditions faced by Italians abroad, particularly miners working under a post-war agreement between Italy and Belgium. Many victims were from regions like Abruzzo, Veneto, and Calabria, deeply marking Italian collective memory.
The significance of August 8 as the National Day of Sacrifice is twofold. Firstly, it honours the memory of those workers who lost their lives. Secondly, it serves to raise awareness about workplace safety and workers' dignity. Italian officials emphasise the event as a shared European memory between Italy and Belgium, underscoring the need for protecting workers' rights and forging a just, united Europe that values diversity and labour rights.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni marked the occasion with a social media post titled "Disaster of Marcinelle, Italy does not forget." The post paid tribute to the 136 Italian workers who lost their lives in the tragedy. President Sergio Mattarella also renewed his feelings of closeness and participation to the families and loved ones of those who perished, stating that current global phenomena, such as climate change and ongoing conflicts, are driving involuntary migration flows.
Minister Tremaglia, during his first official visit to the mine as Minister for Italians Abroad in 2002, said that Marcinelle represents the symbol of suffering, hardship, and bloodshed by Italians and their European brothers in the name of work. The Republic is grateful to all Italians who have brought Italian work values abroad, also contributing to the development of their own country. Protecting workers and fighting all forms of exploitation is a universal duty, responding to principles of civilization.
On this solemn day, Italy stands in solidarity with the families of the victims, honouring their sacrifice and reaffirming its commitment to promoting the dignity of labour in all its manifestations. The social media post includes a black and white photo from the day of the Marcinelle tragedy 69 years ago, serving as a poignant reminder of the tragedy's impact.
[1] Italian Cultural Institute. (2021). The Marcinelle Tragedy: A Turning Point in Italian Emigration History. [online] Available at: https://www.icilondon.esteri.it/Ireland_EN/News_and_Events/News/2021/08/The-Marcinelle-Tragedy-A-Turning-Point-in-Italian-Emigration-History_6450188
[2] European Parliament. (2016). The Marcinelle Tragedy: A Dark Chapter in European Coal Mining History. [online] Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/etudes/STUD/2016/573000/IPOL_STU(2016)573000_EN.pdf
[3] Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. (n.d.). National Day of Italian Workers' Sacrifice. [online] Available at: https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/politica_estera/dichiarazioni/2021/08/08-il-giorno-nazionale-del-sacrificio-dell-operaio-italiano-545543
[4] Bois du Cazier. (n.d.). Marcinelle Disaster. [online] Available at: https://www.boisducazier.be/en/discover/marcinelle-disaster
[5] BBC News. (1956). Belgium Mine Disaster Kills 262. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-14087767
- The Italian Cultural Institute has highlighted that the Marcinelle tragedy serves not only as a tragic reminder of Italian migrant workers' sacrifices, but also as a significant turning point in the history of Italian emigration, influencing workplace-wellness, health-and-wellness, and policy-and-legislation discussions in both Italy and Belgium.
- In line with these observations, politics and general news have emphasized the need for addressing workplace safety, workers' dignity, and the protection of labor rights, situating the Marcinelle disaster within a broader European context.
- On this National Day of Italian Workers' Sacrifice, it is essential to remember the victims, study the lessons learned from the disaster, and reaffirm our commitment to advocating for health-and-wellness, workplace-wellness, and upholding the rights of all workers in honor of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.
