Italian employers are now able to initiate processes to recruit 151,000 foreign workers.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. Flows Decree 2024, the decree enabling Italian businesses to apply for non-EU workers, has been rescheduled from February to March.
2. Employers can initiate their applications on March 18, 21, and 25, depending on the type of employment they are seeking.
3. Applications for Indian workers will be accepted from April 1 to December 31, 2024.

Effective March 18, Italian businesses can commence their applications to recruit non-EU workers within the 151,000 quotas established by the government in September 2023.
As per a press release from the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, businesses can access the Services Portal to prepare their application forms in three stages, occurring between the end of February and the end of March.
The pre-compilation system will be accessible as follows:
- First stage: February 29 to March 16 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm;
- Second stage: March 17 from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm;
- Third stage: March 19 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm;
Employers to Submit Applications for Workers Abroad in March
In accordance with the Prime Ministerial Decree of January 19, 2024, Italian businesses must submit their applications at specific times and dates, depending on the nature of the request.
Upon completion of the pre-compilation step, applications for non-seasonal subordinate workers from countries with cooperation agreements with Italy can be submitted on March 18, starting at 9:00 am.
Three days later, on March 21, applications for non-seasonal subordinate workers, including those in the healthcare sector, must be submitted, starting from 9:00 am. On March 25, businesses are required to submit applications for seasonal workers.
The deadlines for submitting requests for work authorization within the quotas, as outlined in Art. 8, paragraph two of the decree of the President of the Council of Ministers dated September 27, 2023, commence at 9:00 am on March 18, 21, and 25, instead of February 5, 7, and 12.
Prime Ministerial Decree of January 19, 2024
Applications for Workers from India to Commence in April
According to the press release by the Labour Ministry, applications under the Partnership Agreement on mobility and migration with India can be filed between April 1 and December 31.
A total of 6,000 entries for Indian citizens are expected to be allocated for the year, encompassing both non and seasonal workers. While the 2023 work quotas for Italy were set at 136,000, in 2024, 151,000 non-EU workers can enter Italy for employment purposes. This cap is even higher for 2025, with 165,000 non-EU citizens eligible to work in Italy.
The agreement is anticipated to benefit numerous workers from India as well as businesses in Italy grappling with labor shortages across various sectors.
Data from the Ministry of External Affairs indicate that the number of non-resident Indians in Italy is 157,000, while 45,000 people of Indian origin presently reside there. It is estimated that the Indian population in Italy has increased tenfold compared to two decades ago.