Cabinet approves migrant flow decree

(ANSA) - ROME, OCT 2 - A cabinet meeting on Wednesday gave the green light to a decree regulating the legal entry of foreign workers.
    Cabinet Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano said the measure was aimed at "simplifying procedures," and cutting down the time required for permits while giving "certain rules that are more difficult to break", speaking at a press conference after the meeting. In general, the cabinet undersecretary said the decree introduces more so-called 'click days', according to the category of workers, in order to simplify online applications under the country's quota system.
    Specifically, an additional quota of 10,000 employees will be admitted into the country specifically to work as carers and domestic workers, as an experimental measure for 20205, with a particular focus on care for the elderly and the disabled, he explained. Bureaucratic procedures will also be simplified for employers of foreign workers with two specific click days organized in 2025 to deal with the lack of manpower in the tourism sector.
    For the summer season, the click day will he held in February for 70% of quotas while the click day for the winter season will be in October for the remaining 30%. New measures in the decree also include a 60-day time period to enable foreign seasonal workers to find a new job without the risk of expulsion.
    In addition, a seasonal contract can be converted into a short-term or permanent contract, said Mantovano.
    During a press conference, Mantovano also said that a measure in the decree granting security forces the possibility of checking a migrant's cell phone is aimed at "guaranteeing the identification of migrants or at least their geographical origin", without the possibility of accessing messages or "any form of communication".
    The measure also provides for the presence of a cultural mediator during the procedure and the "inspection must be authorized by judicial authorities", he said.
    Overall, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the decree is aimed at opening the country to "regular migration" while fighting illegal entries.
    Illustrating the details of the decree, Tajani mentioned the "obligation to provide digital prints for foreigners requesting a national visa", which is today only required for Schengen visas.
    The foreign minister also mentioned "the elimination of the obligation for consulates to inform a potential migrant that their visa request has been rejected" and more stringent background checks for the release of a visa for citizens of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka where irregularities have been most significant, he said.
    These countries, explained Tajani, are still included in the migrant flow decree but the release of working visas will be suspended to allow more in-depth controls in Italy and the list of countries can be modified through a decree issued by the foreign minister.
    And Labour Minister Marina Calderone also said the decree puts in place a system granting additional protection to foreign workers who report to authorities gangmasters exploiting them on the job with a "special residence permit that initially lasts six months, which can be renewed for an additional year and more". (ANSA).