Milan exposed for migrant labor exploitation in construction and service sectors

Investigations by the Milan public prosecutor have uncovered a large-scale system of migrant labor exploitation in the metropolitan area. Research by PoliS Lombardia estimates around 200,000 undocumented workers—about 18% of the local workforce—are employed in conditions described as "para‑slavery," often earning as little as €3 per hour.

The scheme involves illegal subcontracting and caporalato, with the U.S. firm Caddell Construction and its intermediaries accused of extortion, illegal immigration facilitation, and labor exploitation. Workers are concentrated in construction projects such as the new U.S. consulate, as well as logistics, luxury retail, hotels, finance, fashion, tourism, cleaning, security, and food‑delivery services. In 2025, the Italian Labor Inspectorate carried out 2,017 inspections in the area, finding irregularities in 60.6% of cases and identifying thousands of workers in illegal or abusive arrangements.

The prosecutor's office has built a model investigation that spans multiple sectors, highlighting how the city’s economy relies on a hidden, underpaid workforce.