Key facts
- A Milan court upheld the judicial control of Caddell Construction's Italian subsidiary.
- The company is under investigation for alleged worker abuse at the new U.S. consulate site in Milan.
- Evidence suggests workers faced exhausting shifts, underpayment, and lacked safety protections.
- A judicial administrator will oversee the company's management to ensure labor law compliance.
- The U.S. State Department stated that U.S. law enforcement is cooperating with Italian authorities.
A Milan court has upheld a judicial decision to place the Italian arm of U.S. construction firm Caddell Construction under judicial control, as it faces allegations of worker abuse. The investigation centers on the construction of the new U.S. consulate in Milan.
A judge ruled that evidence indicated the company's Italian unit exploited Indian workers recruited through an intermediary, subjecting them to exhausting shifts, underpayment, and inadequate safety protections, describing it as a potential "corporate practice."
The court has appointed a judicial administrator to work with Caddell's management, ensuring compliance with labor laws and regularizing the workforce. This measure is part of a broader crackdown on labor exploitation in Italy.
Caddell Construction has stated its full cooperation with authorities and its commitment to fair labor standards. The U.S. State Department affirmed that U.S. law enforcement is working with Italian officials and that the U.S. government does not tolerate labor exploitation.
Following the imposition of the judicial measure, the head of Caddell's Italian branch and a supervisor of the Indian workers were arrested as they attempted to leave the country.