The Italian government has been closely monitoring the influx of migrants into the country for work purposes, and recent data has revealed some alarming trends. In particular, the region of Campania has seen a disproportionate number of applications for work authorization from non-EU citizens compared to the number of potential employers in that region.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni highlighted these issues in a video, stating that there are over 157,000 applications for work authorization in Campania alone, with less than 3% of those obtaining a visa actually signing a work contract. This significant gap is not unique to Campania; many other Italian regions have similar, albeit less alarming, numbers.
According to data collected by the government, it appears that regular flows of immigrants for work purposes are being exploited fraudulently as a channel for irregular immigration. Organized crime has infiltrated the management of applications and used flow decrees to grant access to Italy for individuals who would not have been entitled to it, possibly through payment of bribes.
A majority of foreigners entering Italy through flow decrees in recent years come from Bangladesh, where authorities have reported a phenomenon of job buying and selling. In response to these findings, Prime Minister Meloni filed a complaint with the national Anti-Mafia and Anti-terrorism prosecutor on the influx of foreign workers into Italy.
To address these issues and prevent further exploitation of the system, measures must be put in place to ensure effective and transparent management of immigration flows. The government must prioritize safeguarding both the integrity of the process and protecting the rights of those seeking employment in Italy.
