CNA: Use Decreto flussi to regularise illegal immigrants

In autumn there may be demand for more foreign workers

21st January 2010: A new Quota Agreement (Decreto flussi) should be published to legalise the status of foreigners working in Italy illegally, Mr. Fosco Corradini, head of Immigration’s Department of the National Confederation of Crafts and Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (CNA), has said.

Quota Agreement is a document the government publishes every year indicating the highest number of non-EU foreigners allowed to come to Italy for work.

This isn’t one of the best moments to plan the influx of other foreign workers, Mr. Corradini said, adding that the crisis has hit Italian and immigrant workers.

The crisis however, hasn’t made Italy less attractive to immigrants. The country continues to attract foreign workers especially in manual labour sectors such as such as agricultural and domestic work, which are less attractive to Italians, Mr. Corradini said.

The new Quota Agreement could be of help to those doing undeclared work, especially housekeepers (colf) and caregivers (badanti, he said.

Mr. Corradini proposed a Quota Agreement with fewer quotas for new workers coming from abroad, but which mainly serves to legalise the status of those already working illegally in the country.

According to Mr. Corradini, the demand for more foreign workers should be expected in autumn when construction work will resume.