The so-called “decreto flussi”, titled “Urgent provisions on the entry of foreign workers in Italy, protection and assistance for victims of caporalato, as well as management of migratory flows and international protection”, is set to be discussed today in the Council of Ministers with a text that required further coordination among the various ministries involved. The text aims to reform the regulations on the entry of foreign workers in Italy and tighten controls on the activities of NGOs at sea and on asylum seekers’ appeals, after being blocked last Thursday. The final discussion took place yesterday in a pre-Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano, who had denied any “conflicts between ministers and political forces” on the measure. It is considered that the examination is a complex issue that requires refinement and clarification, which is expected to be concluded at the next Council of Ministers.
One of the points under discussion was how to regulate seasonal workers whose contracts have expired and are considered irregular under current legislation. Under the new decree, it is proposed that these workers can stay in Italy for 30 days while waiting for a new contract to be signed, instead of having to return to their home country. Previous drafts had suggested a longer period – as requested by sector businesses and trade unions. The decree aims to overcome the flaws in the system that led to various frauds in the flows of workers. The new regulations state that the application from an employer who has not signed a residency contract in the previous three years will be deemed inadmissible. Separate click days will be set up for different types of workers, and each employer can submit a maximum of 3 requests. Additionally, 10,000 additional entry visas for caregivers will be issued as a trial for the next year. A stricter process is also introduced for applications from workers from countries with a high risk of submitting applications with counterfeit documentation or without legal requirements.
The text also includes greater regulation on the activities of aircraft from humanitarian organizations flying over the Mediterranean to identify migrant boats in distress. The planes must immediately and prioritarily alert the relevant authorities in the area and follow their instructions. Those who violate the provisions may face fines of up to 10,000 euros and the grounding of the aircraft. Another rule that required clarification – in this case, between the Interior and Justice offices – is one that obliges asylum seekers to cooperate with Italian authorities to verify their identity, including providing access to mobile electronic devices for relevant information. The deadline for asylum seekers to appeal a denial is reduced from 14 to 7 days, and individuals may be detained if they fail to surrender a passport or provide appropriate financial guarantees during the procedure.
The “decreto flussi” sets a more stringent framework for foreign workers’ entry into Italy and asylum seekers’ procedures, addressing issues such as irregular workers re-entering on new contracts, controls on NGOs’ activities at sea, and cooperation requirements for asylum seekers. The decree aims to prevent fraud and improve the management of migration flows, with specific regulations for different categories of workers and a trial for additional visas for caregivers. The text also introduces penalties for aircraft not complying with rules while conducting humanitarian missions over the Mediterranean. Overall, the decree seeks to streamline the entry process, increase security measures, and enhance cooperation between authorities and migrants during the asylum application process. The Council of Ministers is expected to finalize the text in the next meeting, following the coordination between the relevant ministries involved in the discussion.
