Workers at U.S. Consulate construction in Milan paid less than $2 an hour

Construction workers on the site of the new U.S. Consulate in Milan were paid less than $2 an hour, far below both Italian and U.S. wage standards, according to employment documents and passport records obtained by the Associated Press. The investigation, which examined payroll records from the construction site, revealed systematic wage violations that suggest exploitation of migrant labourers hired to build the diplomatic facility.

The findings point to a broader pattern of labour abuse in Italian construction, where subcontractors often hire foreign workers through informal arrangements that bypass legal protections. The consulate project, a high-profile diplomatic investment in Milan, underscores how even government-backed construction can be vulnerable to such practices when oversight of labour compliance is inadequate.

The wages documented—under $2 per hour—represent a fraction of Italy's minimum wage, which stands at roughly €10 per hour for standard employment. Workers interviewed by AP said they were not provided with written contracts specifying terms or hours, making it difficult to challenge exploitative conditions. The investigation did not identify which contractor or subcontractor was responsible for the wage violations.