Benevento – The Guardia di Finanza (Financial Police) raided Benevento, where an economic control operation led to the seizure of approximately 79.000 non-compliant items and the discovery of three illegal workers in two businesses.
From department stores to small-town shops, financial police have scrutinized local businesses, uncovering a system of irregularities that puts consumers and workers at risk.
In the heart of Benevento, a department store has come under fire for selling 27.000 items of costume jewelry, toys, and stationery without the mandatory Italian labeling required by the Consumer Code.
The same pattern occurred at a large shopping mall in the city, where 14.000 products, including toys and household items, were confiscated, lacking information on their origin and safety. Meanwhile, in San Bartolomeo in Galdo, the military seized 38.000 personal care products, lacking the CE mark and mandatory labels.
The managers of the three businesses were reported to the Irpinia-Sannio Chamber of Commerce and fined a total of €3.000, while the merchandise was seized. But that's not all. In San Giorgio del Sannio, a check at a car wash revealed two employees without contracts, a violation that exceeds 10% of the business's regular workforce.
Finance police have requested the Labor Inspectorate to suspend the business, a measure that could leave the owner without a business until regularization is achieved. In San Leucio del Sannio, an inspection of a restaurant uncovered another undeclared worker, fueling the picture of a shadow economy that undermines workers' rights and fair competition.
The seized products, potentially dangerous due to their lack of certification, raise questions about the safety of what reaches the shelves.
The operation is part of a broader effort to combat the trade in non-compliant products and illegal labor, phenomena that severely impact the economic fabric of Sannio. Authorities have announced that inspections will continue unabated, with the aim of protecting citizens and businesses operating legally.
Meanwhile, the owners of the businesses involved face a period of investigation and fines, while the city is calling for greater transparency and safety in local commerce.
The inspections reveal how many shops don't follow the rules. Illegal workers are a serious problem, but it's also important to consider that many retailers are struggling to survive.