The lack of manpower, described as an 'emergency' by delegates at the international mobility congress is not just a problem that might be facing Italy in the future, but is a current reality with a profound impact on the entire productive sector.

This analysis was shared by many participants at the International Mobility congress held in the northeastern city of Pordenone on September 26 last week.

The event was promoted by the Upper Adriatic chapter of Italian business association Confindustria and by the Italian Human Resources Association -- Veneto and Friuli-Venezia Giulia to explore the dynamics of the internationalization process of workers.

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Need to increase percentage of foreign workers

Italy's context is clear. The country has a demographic curve that is descending while Africa's is growing.

This imbalance determines the need to increase the number of foreign workers in the country to compensate for a shrinking workforce -- a challenge faced on a daily basis by businesses with growing urgency.

Addressing the congress, Maria Raffaella Caprioglio, president of employment agency UMANA SPA, deplored the fact that, at an institutional level, "there is no full clarity on the fact that the deficit of human resources already represents a problem, with clear signs starting from high schools."

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Crisis in Italy's manufacturing sector

The crisis concerns in particular Italy's manufacturing sector: industrial production dropped by 4.5 percent in January 2024, said Carlo Alberto Papaccio, the HR director of the Marzotto Group, a large textile conglomerate that has ten production bases in Italy as well as bases in five countries worldwide.

The historic perspective is enlightening: in the 20th century, he recalled, 29 million Italians emigrated, while from 2000 until 2005 over four million foreigners settled in Italy, bringing the immigrant population to reach some 5.4 million units.

With a migration policy described by Giuseppe Del Col, deputy director general of Confindustria Alto Adriatico, as "unsophisticated" and influenced by red tape, a structured approach is necessary, participants said.

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Excellent results achieved by the Ghana Project

The Ghana Project was born in this context. It was described at the congress as an excellent model, created within the framework of the government's Cutro Decree, which was converted into law on May 5, 2023 and introduced urgent changes to the entry of foreign workers into Italy, to facilitate the prevention and fight against irregular migration, and offer international protection.

The initiative, promoted by Michelangelo Agrusti, president of Confindustria Alto Adriatico, to deal with the lack of qualified manpower in Italy, in particular in the region Friuli-Venezia Giulia, one of Italy's industrial powerhouses, responded to the needs of businesses.

The project includes training and employment opportunities for Ghanain workers who are specialized in sectors like logistics and shipbuilding.

Professional training takes place at the Salesian Academy in Ghana with further courses organized in Italy, including language certifications and employment via agencies, involving companies and partners like UMANA SPA and the Catholic order of Salesians of Don Bosco.

"Workers trained by the Salesians are temporarily hired for a year with excellent results," explained Caprioglio. "The nine-month-long journey" to reach this goal has been "optimized today to four-five months", he concluded.

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