Prato factory deaths highlight Chinese takeover

The city of Prato, one of Italy's most important textile hubs, has arrested five individuals that are linked to the factory fire that killed seven workers last December. After a three month investigation, the arrests comprise three Chinese factory operators and two Italian. All are charged with manslaughter and exploiting

illegal labour.

Prosecutor Piero Tony said in the arrest warrant that workers in the factory had to work 14-16-hour days without days off, sleeping on “wooden and plasterboard mezzanines, without the minimum in terms of fire prevention or alarm systems”.