A/70/310 25. During his 2012 visits to Italy, the Special Rapporteur learned that the wages received by migrant workers, often employed within the agricultural sector, were often not sufficient to maintain an adequate standard of living. Reports suggested migrants were being paid €20 or less for 10 hours of difficult manual work. Complete impunity appeared to surround the situation of these workers, who were being exploited by landlords and employers to benefit the Italian economy. 3. Broader human rights violations 26. Unfortunately, the abuses of migrants’ rights go far beyond the significant economic exploitation that is commonly experienced. Unethical recruitment practices can facilitate a broad spectrum of interrelated and mutually reinforcing human rights abuses. 27. It is common for migrants recruited from abroad to have severe restrictions placed on their freedom of movement in countries of destination. Exploitative employers, facilitated by recruitment intermediaries, will often restrict the ability of migrants to switch employers and/or leave the country to return home, increasing their dependence and willingness to complete tasks in poor conditions for low wages. 28. Violence and intimidation are also perpetrated against migrants by both unscrupulous recruiters and employers. Such violence can be used as a method of control over migrants who challenge their treatment during the migration process, in the workplace in countries of destination, and in pre-departure training centres and accommodation. It has been reported that supervisors within companies or domestic households employing migrants, will exert violence if migrants do not perform their work functions as expected. Sexual harassment and sexual violence are particular risks faced by female migrants working in different sectors. Private agencies recruit many female migrants to work within domestic households, which operate outside the formal economy and in many countries are excluded from labour law protections. Female migrant workers are therefore left in an extremely precarious situation, working behind closed doors, heavily dependent upon their employer, and without any formal protection mechanism. Female migrant workers in such situations have reported incidences of violence, including sexual violence. 29. The precariousness of the situation of migrant workers can additionally lead to abuses of their economic, social and cultural rights. Housing can often lead to various human rights issues. In cases where employers offer housing, this can be used as an opportunity for further exploitation, as migrants are easier to control than local labour. In other cases, exploitative employers in countries of destination provide housing but this can be used to further control and exploit migrants, as it makes them readily available to perform work. In other cases, migrants can be left to finance their living and food costs independently. The need to minimize costs can lead migrants to live in extremely poor housing conditions, with many living in accommodation lacking basic infrastructure and services, including sanitation, electricity and potable water. Recruiters and subagents can also play a role in arranging and charging for housing, which can further increase their control over and exploitation of migrants. Access to other forms of social protection can also be problematic for migrants. Some migrants have access to healthcare provided through their employment, but this is highly variable, leaving many highly vulnerable if they experience problems with their health. 8/26 15-13569