In a market where outsourcing non-core activities is the norm, business leaders often ignore hidden costs.
The Luigi Morelli Cooperative, a company based in Lucca, has been offering a complete range of integrated services for decades (civil and industrial cleaning, sanitisation, logistics and porterage, maintenance, concierge and more).
Behind the initial savings, however, legal and financial risks may lurk: in fact, when a contract is entrusted to an external supplier, the client is jointly and severally liable for any unpaid social security contributions and workers’ wages. Furthermore, if an adequate verification of the safety plan (DUVRI) is not carried out, the customer can be considered civil and even criminal co-responsible in the event of an accident in the workplace.
The company’s image is also in danger: in the past various “spurious” cooperatives have ended up under investigation for exploitation and fraud, dragging unprepared clients with them.
The three great risks of non-compliant Facility Management
- Financial risk: the client must respond jointly and severally with the contractor for unpaid salaries and contributions, up to two years after the assignment. INPS can retroactively ask for large sums, as well as sanctions, transforming a seemingly convenient contract into an unexpected debt. A “lowest price” supplier who does not regularly pay contributions thus becomes a financial landmine.
- Criminal risk and safety at work: the safety legislation (Legislative Decree 81/2008, art. 26) requires the client to verify the suitability of the supplier, inform about the risks, coordinate the activities and draw up the DUVRI. The jurisprudence is clear: failure to verify or insufficient information can expose company management to criminal charges in the event of an accident. In practice, if a subcontractor worker is involved in an accident and the safety plan was lacking, the customer can end up in court together with the supplier.
- Reputational risk: outside the courtroom, there is the risk of reputational damage. Recent news shows that opaque procurement campaigns, especially through opaque “cooperatives”, attract the attention of the media and unions. “Filter” cooperatives that evade contributions or underpay members have created legal and ethical scandals, embarrassing many client companies. Even a single investigation into the conditions of a supplier’s workers can turn into a press office crisis, with union disputes and losses in turnover.
The solution: “Due Diligence” and the Cooperativa Morelli model
To eliminate these risks, rigorous due diligence on the supplier is needed. Cooperativa Morelli presents itself as a reliable partner thanks to three pillars of compliance, built on the concept of proactive transparency:
- Documentary transparency: even before it is requested by the customer, Morelli provides DURC, UniEMENS forms and contribution payment receipts. This means that the client always has official confirmation of the supplier’s contribution regularity, without having to request documents or replace the legal team. In this way, retroactive surprises on the part of social security institutions are prevented.
- Rigorous application of the CCNL: each member and worker is hired following the relevant national collective agreements, without any exception to salary savings. This eliminates the risk of trade union disputes at its root: correctly classified employees with punctual contributions will have no reason to protest, and the client company can sleep soundly on the maintenance of salary accounts.
- Safety culture: Morelli continuously invests in PPE and specialized training for all risky tasks. The company protocols follow the ISO 45001:2018 standard, guaranteeing a cutting-edge workplace safety management system. Technicians are trained to operate in healthcare environments, confined spaces and industrial sites, reducing the incidence of injuries. This involves clear and controlled procedures (low residual risk) and lightens the customer’s responsibility in the (unlikely) event of an accident.
Thanks to a modern fleet of machines and qualified personnel, Cooperativa Morelli ensures that company logistics does not become an unknown.
The advanced forklifts and warehouse software used manage loading/unloading safely and precisely. Even during seasonal or e-commerce peaks, goods flows remain controlled, avoiding delays and damage.
This way, the customer can outsource warehousing with the certainty that every pallet will be tracked and managed to a high standard.
Likewise, in the professional cleaning and sanitization sector the Cooperative adopts specialized machinery and rigorous hygiene protocols. Operators wear adequate PPE (gloves, protective suits, masks) and use certified detergents and disinfectants for each environment.
For example, a hospital entrusted to Morelli is sanitized following dedicated and scheduled plans, while an industrial warehouse receives targeted treatments with latest generation washer-dryers and sweepers. Obtaining ISO 45001 certification demonstrates the continuous commitment to guaranteeing safety during every intervention.
Safe outsourcing that grows your business
Choosing certified and solid partners like Cooperativa Morelli is almost equivalent to taking out an insurance policy for the company.
The “savings” of a low-cost supplier often translate into higher expenses: labor lawsuits, fines and reputational damage.
On the contrary, collaborating with a transparent company, compliant with the CCNL, attentive to safety and with regular reports means protecting company assets. Investing in preventive due diligence, checking documents, contracts and procedures, pays off in peace of mind. In summary, relying on expert and structured professionals like Morelli’s helps the business grow without unexpected legal or financial risks.
