Spanish
The death of an Italian tour guide while with a group at the Colosseum in Rome, believed to be due to heatstroke, has opened the debate on working conditions, also under the intense heat of these days.
The woman, Maria Giovanna Giammarino, 56 years old, collapsed at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, August 19, after climbing some stairs while working as an official guide of the Colosseum, as explained last night by the media.
"The death of Giovanna Maria Giammarino, who felt unwell while working as a tour guide in the Colosseum Archaeological Park, is news that saddens us. On behalf of the entire Administration, I express my closeness and my most sincere condolences to her family and all her colleagues," declared the Mayor of Rome, Roberto Gualtieri, in a statement.
The news of his death also caused the protest of his colleagues who on social media claimed "the need for new rules to protect the profession".
The text highlights "the risks and wear and tear of a profession that requires great physical effort, in a context like the Colosseum, frequented by thousands of people".
"The tragic death of Giovanna Maria Giammarino, as has unfortunately happened on other occasions with active tour guides, raises an important question: the time has come to consider specific regulations and insurance policies that offer greater health protection to this professional category. Often, those who perform this work are self-employed who, for economic reasons, are forced to work even in precarious health conditions," they added.
For their part, the unions in the sector stated in a note: "We hope that the causes of her death will be clarified, starting with the work schedules and the temperature, we express our most sincere condolences for the death of Giovanna Maria and our deepest sympathy to her family and loved ones."
"This name is added to the long list of people who have lost their lives at work and makes us responsible for keeping attention on working conditions in the cultural world, which must necessarily change and improve," added the note.
Furthermore, it was also criticized that after the guide's death, the Flavian Amphitheater was not closed and tourist visits continued. "Therefore, we condemn the decision to reopen the monument despite the tragic event. While it is true that guided tours are booked well in advance, the feeling of condolence should prevail over any event or initiative," said the statement issued by CGIL, Filcams and Fp Cgil.
