Full Breakdown
Milan Prosecutors Probe Alleged Exploitation of Indian Workers on U.S. Consulate Project
5/29/2026, 9:08:04 PM
Judicial Probe of Caddell Construction
On 29 May 2026, Milan chief prosecutor Paolo Storari ordered an emergency judicial review of Caddell Construction’s Italian branch. A 103-page decree places the firm under judicial control after allegations that Indian laborers on the new U.S. consulate at Piazzale Accursio were paid below the poverty line, forced to work excessive hours, and threatened with dismissal or repatriation.
Consulate Project Background
Caddell Construction, based in Alabama, specializes in large-scale diplomatic and military facilities. Its portfolio totals over $24 billion in 38 countries. The Milan consulate contract, worth almost €210 million, began in 2022, was due in 2025 and is now delayed to 2028.
Workforce Size and Recruitment
The decree states Caddell’s Italian unit employed 311-394 workers in 2025, including 316 Indians. By February 2026 the workforce fell to 261, all recruited via a New Delhi agency. Each worker paid 500,000 rupees (? $5,225) for a 36-month contract and travel to Italy.
Working Conditions and Pay
Hourly wages ranged €1.31–€1.91, yielding €1,300–€1,500 monthly. Undisclosed deductions for housing and food stripped about €800, leaving minimal net pay. Carabinieri found 12-hour shifts six days a week, far above Italy’s 40-hour limit. Workers reported no sick leave, termination threats, and intimidation by team leaders.
Official Response
The Carabinieri appointed a court-designated administrator to monitor compliance with Italian labor law. The decree awaits judicial validation. Caddell Construction, its Italian subsidiary, and the U.S. embassy in Rome declined comment.
Workers' Testimony
Thirty-five Indian laborers described the recruitment fee, language barrier, and financial strain of supporting families. They said they were misled about contract terms, forced to work exhausting shifts, and warned refusal would lead to job loss and deportation.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I had to sell my wife's gold and ask friends and relatives for a loan, which I will then have to repay,” — Gopal Nayak, worker
- “Every month I sent €300 to India to support my three children, my wife and my brother... I was left with just a bit of money to buy dinner,” — Manoj Kumar, worker
- “repeated violations of the regulations regarding working hours, rest periods and days off” — Judicial decree
- “The prosecutor said the workers were threatened with dismissal and with being sent back to India if they did not accept the exploitation.” — Judicial decree
Future Steps
A court-appointed administrator will oversee Caddell’s compliance as construction proceeds. The prosecutor’s office will review the decree’s validation and may pursue criminal charges if violations are confirmed. The case is part of a broader Italian crackdown on labor exploitation.
