The Italian Senate on November 26 gave final approval to a migrant flow decree regulating the entry of foreign workers. The text voted into law was greenlighted by the Lower House on November 18.
The Senate on November 26 voted into law a decree regulating the legal entry of foreign workers, confirming the text first greenlighted by the Lower House. The decree was voted on by a show of hands by the centre-right majority, with the opposition of the centre left.
The legislation includes multiple measures regarding residence permits, both ordinary and seasonal ones, for migrants from non-EU countries, to meet demands made by business representatives derogating from the current immigration law.
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Measures in the legislation
The legislation, first approved by the Lower House on November 18, introduces a maximum term of 30 days to release a work permit after a minimal request has been filed.
A deadline to present a visa application, after completing a training program in the country of origin, has instead been provisionally extended to 12 months until December 31, 2027.
Meanwhile, the duration of residence permits granted to foreign citizens for social protection (victims of trafficking or grave exploitation) or those released to gangmastering victims has been extended to a year from six months.
Moreover, in both cases, the duration can be prolonged to enable a foreign national to find employment. Foreigners who have been granted a stay permit for reasons of social protection or as family abuse victims can also benefit from anti-poverty 'inclusion cheques' as an exception from current rules outlining specific requirements regarding citizenship and residence, such as being EU citizens, long-term foreign residents, have an international protection permit and having resided in Italy for at least five years, among others.
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Additional quota
The possibility of an additional quota of 10,000 employees being admitted into the country specifically to work as carers and domestic workers, in particular for the elderly, children under six and the disabled, will be extended until 2028.
The contingent of foreigners admitted into the country to take part in volunteer programs in Italy, outlined with a decree by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, will not be determined annually anymore, but over a three-year period.
The deadline to release a permit enabling foreign nationals to reunite with family members in Italy has been extended from 90 to 150 days.
The possibility of taking part in the meetings of the committee to fight gangmastering and labour exploitation in agriculture (which becomes stable) has also been extended to officially recognized religious entities.