Exploitation of Migrant Laborers on a Major US Construction Project in Italy

A growing labor exploitation probe has focused on a large construction project for a new US embassy in Milan after migrant workers said they were abused and underpaid despite promises of fair wages.

Alabama-based Caddell Construction, a major global contractor for US diplomatic facilities, is the subject of an investigation by Italian authorities. As part of an investigation involving over 70 foreign workers, the most of whom were from India, two firm managers in Italy were recently detained on suspicion of labor abuse.

One of the biggest diplomatic construction projects in Europe right now is the $350 million consulate project. Investigators were informed by a number of former Kenyan and Indian workers that they took jobs in Milan after receiving employment letters that promised yearly earnings of more than €25,000. Rather, they claim to have only gotten a small portion of that sum.

One Kenyan electrician, whose identity has been withheld for security concerns, stated, “When you go to the office to ask any question, you are being told: ‘You either work or you are being returned to your country.”

Workers claim that deductions for housing and food further decreased income, leaving some workers with monthly salaries of about €500. According to reports, the hourly rate of one Indian electrician was only €1.55 on his pay stub.

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