Judge upholds oversight of US consulate builder in Milan over labour probe

A Milan judge has upheld a judicial control measure placed on the Italian arm of U.S. builder Caddell Construction, which is currently under investigation for alleged worker abuse. The decision stems from a probe into labor exploitation at the construction site for Milan's new U.S. consulate.

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on exhausting shifts, underpaid, without safety protections and under the constant threat of dismissal

The emergency measure, imposed on May 29 by Milan prosecutors, is part of a wider crackdown on labor exploitation across various sectors in Italy over the past three years. Court documents reveal that the judge found evidence suggesting Caddell Construction's Italian unit recruited workers from India through an intermediary. These workers were allegedly subjected to exhausting shifts, underpaid, and worked without safety protections, facing constant threats of dismissal.

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does not appear to be the result of occasional initiatives ... but rather a sort of corporate practice

The judge concluded that the treatment of these workers did not appear to be isolated incidents but rather indicative of a "corporate practice." Consequently, a judicial administrator has been appointed to work alongside the company's management. This administrator will report to the judge every three months, tasked with ensuring adherence to labor laws and formalizing the existing workforce.

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fully and proactively cooperating both with local and judicial authorities, as well as conducting our own comprehensive inquiry into this matter to ensure all our global partners are in compliance with all labour standards and legal requirements

Caddell Construction has stated its full cooperation with authorities and is conducting its own inquiry to ensure compliance with labor standards. The company asserts its commitment to fair treatment and payment of workers. A spokesperson for the U.S. State Department affirmed that U.S. law enforcement is working closely with Italian authorities, emphasizing that the U.S. government does not tolerate labor exploitation. The head of Caddell's Italian branch and a supervisor of the Indian workers were arrested shortly after the judicial measure was imposed.

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Caddell is committed to treating and paying workers fairly