Recently, the government has been closely monitoring the regular entry flows of migrants into Italy for work reasons, and the data that has emerged is disturbing. In particular, the region of Campania has seen a disproportionate number of applications for work authorization for non-EU citizens compared to the number of potential employers. Even more concerning is the fact that only a minimal percentage of foreigners who obtain a visa for work reasons actually end up signing a work contract.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted these issues in a video, stating that in Campania alone, there are applications for work authorization for 157 thousand people, with less than 3% of those obtaining a visa for seasonal work actually signing a work contract. This significant gap is not unique to Campania, as many other Italian regions have similar, albeit less alarming, numbers.
Based on the data, it appears that regular flows of immigrants for work reasons are being exploited fraudulently as a channel for irregular immigration. Organized crime has infiltrated the management of applications, and the flow decrees have been used to allow access to Italy for individuals who would not have been entitled to it, possibly through the payment of bribes.
The majority of foreigners entering Italy through the flow decree in recent years come from Bangladesh, where authorities have reported a phenomenon of job buying and selling. In response to these findings, Prime Minister Meloni filed a complaint with the national Anti-Mafia and Anti-terrorism prosecutor on the influx of foreign workers into Italy.
It is clear that these issues need to be addressed and measures put in place to prevent further exploitation of the system. The government must work to ensure that the flow of immigrants for work reasons is managed effectively and transparently to protect both the integrity of the process and the rights of those seeking employment in Italy.