Milan, Italy – A shocking investigation has brought to light allegations of severe labor exploitation and inhumane working conditions at the construction site of the new US Consulate in Milan. Workers, primarily from Kenya and India, claim they were paid as little as €1.43 per hour, fed spoiled food, and subjected to intimidation tactics by their superiors. The revelations come on the heels of the abrupt dismissal of several workers, who were then reportedly told to “return to their country of origin without delay.”
The Abrupt Dismissal: A Polite but Brutal Eviction
The ordeal began for a group of four Kenyan and two Indian workers, aged between 29 and 51, when they received a letter of termination from Caddell, the construction company responsible for the consulate project. The letter, while politely worded, delivered a brutal message: “We kindly request you to return to your country of origin without delay.” However, the actual dismissal was even more abrupt, with workers being informed on-site that their services were no longer needed and they had two days to vacate their company-provided housing.
Currently, some of these workers are left homeless, sleeping in parks or relying on the kindness of strangers for shelter. The Kenyan workers had previously been employed by Caddell for the American embassy in Nairobi, where they reportedly faced similar exploitative conditions.
A Web of Allegations: Low Wages, Spoiled Food, and Intimidation
Despite their fear of repercussions, the workers have bravely come forward with their stories, providing documents, pay stubs, and access badges to corroborate their claims. They describe a relentless work schedule: six days a week, 12 hours a day, with only a one-hour lunch break. “If we missed a single day, we weren’t paid for the next three,” one worker stated. “And if someone didn’t show up for three days, the penalty was repatriation.”
The conditions extended beyond just long hours and low pay. Workers reported being served “terrible” food: “rotten fish that stank, uncooked rice, horrible salad, rock-hard bread.” For each meal, €6 was deducted from their meager wages, an amount equivalent to nearly five hours of work. Their hourly pay, they claim, ranged between a shocking €1.43 and €1.80. While their pay stubs were reportedly manipulated to appear regular, the reality on the ground was starkly different.
Further allegations include a strict and punitive transportation system: “A bus would pick us up at six in the morning to take us to the construction site. Anyone who missed it risked a three-day pay fine.” They also spoke of constant threats from Turkish supervisors, who allegedly warned them against speaking to each other on the site. “The Turks threatened us if we exchanged a few words on the site,” a worker revealed.
Discrimination and Lack of Control
The workers’ accounts paint a picture of a stratified workforce, with different nationalities receiving disparate treatment. While the majority of workers were Indian (around 500) and Kenyan (around 40), a minority of Turkish and Romanian workers reportedly enjoyed better conditions. “The Turks have a different treatment; their boss pays them well, and they don’t have problems,” a worker explained. Italian workers, too, were said to have more favorable terms, working from 8 AM to 4 PM and having weekends off.
Housing arrangements also reflected this disparity. While Turkish and Romanian workers were housed in single-room apartments shared by two, with rent included in their wages, others were forced to share rooms with three people and pay €510 per month each. Even during their days off, workers reported being monitored at their residences. “They didn’t want us to talk to Italians, so no one could report anything,” one worker stated, highlighting the pervasive fear that silenced them.
Union Intervention and Unanswered Questions
In response to these grave allegations, trade unions Fillea CGIL, Filca CISL, and Feneal UIL have organized a two-hour solidarity picket for tomorrow at 9 AM, directly in front of the new US Consulate construction site at Via Achille Papa 22B. This swift action underscores the seriousness of the situation and the unions’ commitment to supporting the exploited workers.
The revelations raise critical questions about oversight and accountability at major international construction projects. How could such blatant exploitation occur on a site for a diplomatic mission? What measures were in place to ensure fair labor practices, and why did they apparently fail? The fact that some workers had previously endured similar conditions at another Caddell project in Nairobi further highlights a potentially systemic issue that demands international attention.
The workers, despite their immense fear, are determined to see justice served. Their testimonies, supported by a trove of documents, offer a chilling glimpse into a world where profit seemingly trumps human dignity and basic labor rights. As the unions mobilize and the public demands answers, the spotlight now turns to Caddell and the US authorities to address these disturbing allegations and ensure that such exploitation is never allowed to happen again.
The Carabinieri have reportedly intervened, taking workers to the barracks for questioning after their shift, indicating that a formal investigation is underway.
Source: milano.corriere.it
