Equalitas turns the spotlight on the topic of safety at work with the presentation of “Wine and Safety Districts” , the project promoted together with Luci sul Lavoro, focused on the case study of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano . The initiative was born to reflect on the strategic role of the consortia for the protection of Italian wine (over 500 for approximately 800,000 employees) as fundamental players in the promotion of a work culture centered on the person and their rights.
The conference, moderated by Michele Manelli, vice president of Equalitas, was attended by Andrea Rossi , president of the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano, a reference point for the project, identified as a replicable model for the entire system of Italian wine districts, and Riccardo Ricci Curbastro , president of Equalitas. Other guests included Giangiacomo Gallarati Scotti Bonaldi , president of FederDoc, Mirko Borselli , secretary of FLAI CGIL Toscana, Pietro Gasparri , director of the PQAI management office – Certified quality, protection of geographical indications of agricultural, agri-food and wine products, and general affairs. Also present were representatives of the academic world, including Fabio Berti , professor at the University of Siena, Alessandro Innocenti , professor at the University of Siena, and Marco Marazza , expert and lecturer in Labor Law.
The initiative is part of the annual permanent roundtable Vino e Lavoro , the path traced for years by Equalitas aimed at promoting integrated sustainability that includes both the environmental and economic dimension, as well as the well-being and protection of workers. The data on Agriculture in Italy, presented during the roundtable, highlighted a still critical national picture: in 2023, there were approximately 26,546 accidents at work, of which 138 were fatal, of which 22% involved foreign workers who make up 22% of the workforce . A figure that reflects the often precarious working conditions that affect foreign workers: more dangerous tasks, fewer protections, language barriers, contractual and psychological fragilities.
The presentation of the research and the debate that emerged from it, have shown the value and scalability of the initiative by the consortia and all the actors involved. On the one hand, recurring cases of accidents have emerged that will allow the construction of as many training courses for the wine supply chains. On the other, the opportunities that have emerged to create virtual reality tools that can also overcome language barriers, show the added value of the project.
Finally, we discussed how analyses of this kind can satisfy the adaptation of small businesses to the new legislation on risk assessment itself and therefore on the responsibilities of the employer. All the parties involved have therefore made an appointment for next year with the clear objective of supporting Equalitas and the Wine Consortia in a truly positive and concrete path”
“ It is time for the protection consortia to become spokespeople for excellence that goes beyond product quality, becoming promoters of a culture of safe, respectful and dignified work – underlined Riccardo Ricci Curbastro, recently reconfirmed as president of Equalitas - The sustainability of the entire sector passes through the protection of the worker: for this reason it is increasingly important and necessary to put the person at the center by identifying their psycho-physical well-being as the main lever of productivity of the company and the consequent solidity and longevity of the sector. For this reason it is necessary to strengthen prevention policies in terms of investments in training and occupational medicine. A renewal that starts from the dissemination of good practices of individual realities and, in this, the case of Nobile di Montepulciano is a virtuous example.”
Entering into the merits of the wine sector, the Consorzio del Vino Nobile di Montepulciano has immediately revealed itself as the spearhead for defining an integrated sustainability model, a project that will dictate the guidelines for the other Consortia. With over 90 bottlers and 2000 employees, it represents a reality of great importance both from a historical point of view (it is in fact one of the oldest wines in Europe) and from a green perspective, being the first Consortium to have adopted the Equalitas standard . A testimony of how quality and sustainability can coexist not only of the product but in the entire production system, giving life to a concrete model applicable on a national scale.
