The government’s decision not to publish the Quota Agreement (Decreto flussi) this year is a “bad idea,” Mr. Guglielmo Loy, Confederal Secretary of UIL Trade Union has said.
Such a move favours irregularity and penalises non-EU countries that have signed bilateral agreements with Italy to fight illegal immigration, he said.
Last week Home Affairs Minister Annamaria Cancellieri said they were still undecided on whether or not to allow new non-seasonal foreign workers into the country this year.
She said that the level of unemployment in the country was “dramatic”, adding that there were almost no requests for new workers.
While admitting that the crisis has seriously affected both Italians and foreigners, Mr. Loy said that blocking legal entry of immigrant workers would leave illegal entry as the only alternative.
The holders of EC long-term residence permits (Carta di Soggiorno) issued by other European countries have a right to come and work in Italy but they can only do so after the publication of the Quota Agreement, Mr. Loy said.
He also reminded the government that the Quota Agreement normally reserves special quotas to immigrants from countries that signed agreements with Italy to fight illegal immigration.
How can the government think of fighting illegal immigration and reducing tragedies in the Mediterranean Sea if it fails to respect the agreements signed with Mediterranean countries, Mr. Loy asked.
He urged the government to reconsider its decision and to publish the Quota Agreement.
