The next 'click day' for legal entry of domestic caregivers from non-EU countries, set for March 21, is raising concerns among Italian families seeking to hire caregivers or babysitters, according to Assindatcolf. The association, which represents employers of domestic workers, recently highlighted findings from a survey conducted by the socio-economic research institute Censis.

Majority would prefer alternative procedures to flow decree

Commenting on the study on Monday (March 11), Assindatcolf said that 82.5% of families employing domestic workers would prefer an alternative to the flow decree (Decreto Flussi) regulating the entry of foreign workers. The research, titled 'Where is welfare going? Health, assistance, and social services in the expectations of households,' was carried out by Censis.

According to the research, only 17.5% of the families polled thought the flow decree system setting entry quotas for foreign workers should remain unchanged. The survey was carried out on a sample of 2,400 families hiring domestic workers.

Regarding the 'click day' procedure for filing applications online, the survey found that this process was largely unfamiliar to families. A significant 71.7% indicated they were unaware of the system, while of those who were aware, 23.5% found it complex. Additionally, 17.7% reported difficulties with the application process, while 5.8% deemed it effective but complex, and only 4.8% considered it successful.

Also read: Italy: High demand for non-EU domestic workers exceeds quota

Association expresses fear of 'same difficulties reported on December 4'

Speaking about their experience on December 4 last year, the first 'click day' for domestic workers included in the quota of non-EU foreign workers to be admitted to Italy in 11 years, 80% of those interviewed spoke about "insufficient quotas" to meet demand and included as a problem the lengthy period of time to get a response (36.7%) and difficulties in using the website of the interior ministry (26.7%) for the procedure.

"The results of this survey show the clear limits both of the flow decree and the 'click day' procedure connected to it," said Andrea Zini, president of Assindatcolf.

He described the system as a "little-known tool for families" which is "too complicated and inadequate."

Speaking about March 21, the scheduled 'click day' for domestic workers in 2024, he concluded saying that "our fear, if not certainty, is a repetition of the same problems reported on December 4", when demand to hire non-EU citizens as domestic workers and carers under the quota system outstripped the number of available places in just a few minutes after online applications got underway.

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