From 8:00 today, employers who would like to invite foreign seasonal workers to Italy can submit their applications.
The Quota Agreement (Decreto flussi) opening Italy’s borders to 35,000 non-EU seasonal workers was published in the Official Gazette yesterday.
The 35,000 non-EU seasonal workers will work in the agricultural and tourist/hotel sectors.
Apart from seasonal workers, the Quota Agreement also allow 4,000 non-EU foreigners to come to Italy for non-seasonal work. These are people who underwent job trainings approved by Italy’s Ministry of Labour, and conducted by local institutions, trade unions, employers’ organisations and other authorised institutions in their home countries.
Employers can prepare and submit their applications by logging on to the website of Ministry of Home Affairs at nullaostalavoro.interno.it.
There are sufficient quotas so there is no need for employers to rush in submitting their applications. They should only rush if they need the workers to arrive urgently.
Workers from the following countries will be admitted for seasonal work: Nigeria, Ghana, The Gambia, Senegal, Albania, Algeria, Bangladesh, India, Kosovo, Macedonia, Morocco, Moldavia, Montenegro, Niger, Pakistan, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Ukraine, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Philippines, Egypt and Tunisia.
Applications can only be submitted online. Those who are not computer literate can seek the help of work consultants, employers’ organisations, or Benevolent Institutions (Patronati).
Employers of foreigners who have already come to Italy for work for two consecutive years can apply for multiple entry clearance. This would enable the employers to invite the same workers even in the coming years using a simpler procedure, and without waiting for the government to publish the Quota Agreement allowing seasonal workers to come to Italy.
