Author
The residence permit issued to refugees and beneficiaries of subsidiary protection enables them to have access to work and to public employment, the only limitation being positions involving the exercise of public authority or responsibility for safeguarding the general interests of the State. However, the Code of Navigation establishes that the enrolment of cadets, students and trainees is reserved only for EU or Italian citizens, a rule that appears discriminatory.[1]
Beneficiaries are entitled to the same treatment as Italian citizens with regard to employment, self-employment, registration with professional associations, professional training, including refresher courses, on-the-job training and services provided by employment centres.
According to the law, the Prefects, in agreement with the Municipalities, promote initiatives for the voluntary involvement of applicants and beneficiaries of international protection in activities of social utility in favour of local communities. The activities are unpaid, and relevant projects are financed through EU funds.[2]
A 2021 study based on 17 interviews with beneficiaries of international protection outside Italy’s reception system found that job prospects depend less on prior skills or qualifications than on social networks and family economic obligations. Those under strong pressure to support their families tend to rely on quickly-activated community networks (often compatriots met in Libya or reception centres) to find work fast, frequently accepting informal or illegal jobs, or moving to other European countries—while showing little interest in building ties with locals or learning Italian. Those with fewer economic obligations (typically younger, without dependents) are more likely to pursue paths involving local networks, internships, or social contacts through activities like sport, even with lower income. However, this openness to integration does not necessarily translate into a desire to remain in Italy: only one interviewee expressed willingness to stay, while all others planned to return home.[3]
In January 2024, the Welcome-in-one-click platform, created by UNHCR in collaboration with the Adecco Foundation, was launched online, to facilitate refugees and asylum applicants’ access to the job market. The platform is linked to the Welcome program “Working for refugee integration”, created by UNHCR in 2017 with the aim of promoting the work integration of refugee people. As of January 2024, UNHCR had involved around 700 companies in the Welcome program and promoted around 30,000 work inclusion paths.[4]
[1] Article 119 Navigation Code.
[2] Article 22-bis Reception Decree, as amended by Article 8 Decree Law 13/2017 and L 46/2017, amended by L 173/2020 in order to include asylum seekers.
[3] Rapporto di ricerca “Rifugiati al lavoro – Quali reti? Quali politiche?”, IRES Piemonte, December 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3MBXhZg.
[4] See Integrazione migranti, 24 January 2024, available at: https://acesse.dev/4mFwc.