Esselunga probed for tax fraud, worker exploitation

(ANSA) - ROME, JUN 22 - Milan finance police on Thursday seized almost 48 million euros from Esselunga in relation to a probe into alleged tax fraud and worker exploitation by the supermarket chain.
    The group was allegedly involved in a "complex tax fraud" featuring fake invoices for services never provided as well as so-called "manpower reservoirs" - agencies and cooperatives that provide workers so the company that needs them does not have to employ them directly - in logistics and goods transport.
    Such 'manpower reservoirs' are frequently declared insolvent soon after being set up.
    In the confiscation order, Milan Prosecutor Paolo Storari said Esselunga's "fraudulent" conduct had lasted for several years and featured "the systematic exploitation of workers as well as significant damage to the tax authority".
    The supermarket chain's former and current finance directors are under investigation.
    The investigation crosses over with another probe coordinated by Storari into the alleged exploitation of security guards by Servizi Fiduciari, a cooperative that is part of the Sicuritalia group.
    The cooperative allegedly paid security guards just 5.37 euros an hour gross and allegedly kept them in line with "acts of violence (especially verbal), threats and intimidation". (ANSA).