--- title: "US firm to pay €30.9m over Milan consulate worker exploitation" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation" category: "Politics" area: "European Union" published: "2026-09-27T15:25:13.948Z" source_reported: "2026-09-27T13:15:02.000Z" updated: "2026-09-27T15:25:13.948Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 65 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-09-27T15:15:46.294931+00:00" --- # US firm to pay €30.9m over Milan consulate worker exploitation *Caddell Construction commits to payment following probe into alleged labour abuses at new US consulate site.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to a document seen by Reuters, with multiple outlets corroborating. - Craft 65 of 100, higher is better. Reports include quotes from officials and details on payment breakdown, with some mentioning permits. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Headlines are factual and do not overstate the content of the reports. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US construction company Caddell Construction has agreed to pay €30.941 million ($35.24 million) to resolve allegations of worker exploitation. - The payment includes nearly €20 million for workers' overtime, accommodation, and compensation for non-material damages. - The probe has resulted in the issuance of 238 residence permits for victims of caporalato, a form of labour exploitation. - Caddell Construction did not admit guilt as part of the agreement. US builder Caddell Construction has committed to paying €30.941 million ($35.24 million) following an investigation into alleged worker exploitation at the site of the new US consulate in Milan. The agreement was detailed in a document seen by Reuters. The payment is intended to address claims of labour abuses during the construction of the diplomatic facility. The sum includes almost €20 million designated for workers, covering unpaid overtime, accommodation, and compensation for non-material damages. The Italian Ministry of Labour stated that the intervention facilitated the recognition of over €30 million for workers, encompassing unpaid overtime, lodging, moral damages, social security contributions, severance pay, and administrative sanctions. As a result of the probe, 238 residence permits have been issued to victims of caporalato, a system of labour exploitation, who were involved in the construction. Caddell Construction has not admitted guilt in relation to the allegations. The company's commitment to pay was made to the Milan Public Prosecutor's Office. ## Disagreement on specific payment breakdown While Reuters, WTVB, and vienna.at report that the payment includes nearly €20 million for workers for overtime, accommodation, and compensation for non-material damage, Il Fatto Quotidiano provides a more detailed breakdown. Il Fatto Quotidiano states that €9.6 million covers unpaid salary, €3 million covers food and lodging costs, €7 million is for moral damages, and €11 million covers social security contributions, severance pay, and various sanctions. The Italian Ministry of Labour's statement, as reported by Il Fatto Quotidiano, mentions over €30 million for unpaid overtime, accommodation, moral damages, social security contributions, severance pay, and administrative sanctions. ## Omissions in coverage None of the right-rated digests mention the specific number of residence permits issued to victims of caporalato. None of the centre-rated digests mention the specific number of residence permits issued to victims of caporalato. None of the digests mention the specific breakdown of the payment as detailed by Il Fatto Quotidiano. ## Who covered it Shares of the 7 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 57% (4) - Centre: 29% (2) - Right: 14% (1) 2 of 9 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-27T15:15:46.294931+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 2 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-27T15:45:11.924Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left - The left-rated reports led on the scale of the payment and the number of workers receiving residence permits. Il Fatto Quotidiano highlighted the statement from Italian Labour Minister Marina Calderone, who said the state does not leave vulnerable workers behind and that the operation was one of the most significant against caporalato. This report also detailed the payment breakdown, noting that €9.6 million was for unpaid salaries, €3 million for food and lodging, €7 million for moral damages, and €11 million for contributions and sanctions. Unn.ua reported that the American company would pay over €30 million for worker exploitation and that the company did not admit guilt. Fakti.bg also reported the €31 million payment and the exploitation of workers. ### Centre - The centre-rated reports focused on the formal commitment of the US builder to pay the settlement amount and the probe into alleged worker exploitation. Reuters and WTVB both reported that Caddell Construction formally committed to paying €30.941 million ($35.24 million) following a probe into alleged worker exploitation, citing a document seen by Reuters. Both reports noted the payment was over alleged exploitation at the new US consulate site in Milan. ### Right - The right-rated report from Regional Media News led with the headline stating the US consulate builder in Milan would pay $35 million over a labour probe, as shown in a document. The digest stated that US builder Caddell Construction formally committed to pay €30.941 million ($35.24 million) in a probe into alleged worker exploitation at the site of the new US consulate in Milan, a document seen by Reuters showed. **Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - high: 6 - unknown: 2 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [fakti.bg](https://fakti.bg/world/1084210-stroitelna-kompania-shte-plati-31-miliona-evro-zaradi-eksploatacia-na-rabotnici-v-novoto-amerikansko-konsulstvo-v-milano) — Construction Company to Pay €31 Million for Exploiting Workers at New US Consulate in Milan - [Il Fatto Quotidiano](https://ilfattoquotidiano.it/2026/09/27/caporalato-consolato-usa-milano-risarcimento-notizie/8519647) — Caporalato Consulate USA Milan: 238 Residence Permits for Exploited Workers - [regionalmedianews.com](https://regionalmedianews.com/news/national/business/us-consulate-builder-in-milan-to-pay-35-million-over-labour-probe-document-shows) — US consulate builder in Milan to pay $35 million over labour probe, document shows - Regional Media News - [vienna.at](https://vienna.at/baukonzern-von-us-konsulat-in-mailand-zahlt-millionen-nach/10496978) — Construction Company of US Consulate in Milan Pays Millions After - [unn.ua](https://unn.ua/news/amerykanska-kompaniia-splatyt-ponad-30-mln-yevro-za-ekspluatatsiiu-pratsivnykiv-na-budivnytstvi-konsulstva-ssha-v-milani) — The American Company Will Pay More than 30 Million Euros for the Operation of Workers at the Construction of the US Consulate in Milan - [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/ff033a9fc772a409) — US consulate builder in Milan to pay $35 million over labour probe, document shows - [Reuters](https://reuters.com/business/us-consulate-builder-milan-pay-35-million-over-labour-probe-document-shows-2026-09-27) — US consulate builder in Milan to pay $35 million over labour probe, document shows - [WTVB](https://wtvbam.com/2026/09/27/us-consulate-builder-in-milan-to-pay-35-million-over-labour-probe-document-shows) — US consulate builder in Milan to pay $35 million over labour probe, document shows - [La Repubblica](https://milano.repubblica.it/cronaca/2026/09/27/news/consolato_usa_caporalato_caddell_maxi_risarcimento_operai_indiani_sfruttati-425609797) — Caporalato in the Yard of the US Consulate, Caddell Pays 30 Million: 44 Thousand Euros per Head to the Workers ## Questions **How much will Caddell Construction pay?** Caddell Construction has formally committed to pay €30.941 million ($35.24 million) as part of a probe into alleged worker exploitation. This payment is intended to resolve claims of labour abuses at the construction site of the new US consulate in Milan. **What does the payment cover?** The payment includes nearly €20 million for workers, intended for overtime, accommodation, and compensation for non-material damages. The Italian Ministry of Labour stated the intervention allowed for the recognition of over €30 million for workers, covering various aspects including unpaid overtime and damages. **What has been the impact of this probe on workers?** The probe has led to the issuance of 238 residence permits for victims of caporalato involved in the construction of the new US consulate in Milan. Additionally, some workers have been admitted to unemployment benefits. **Did Caddell Construction admit guilt?** No, Caddell Construction did not admit guilt as part of the agreement to pay the settlement. The company made its commitment to pay following an investigation into alleged worker exploitation. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US firm to pay €30.9m over Milan consulate worker exploitation", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-firm-to-pay-309m-over-milan-consulate-worker-exploitation