Italy
Regional Table for Coordination on Immigration |
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This
initiative is aimed at setting up a regional system of
coordination for complimentary actions such as:
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Integration of extra-EU immigrants workers into their
work environment and local community;
- Peaceful cohabitation between locals and immigrants;
- Promoting the return of Italian and Venetian emigrants
- Giving relevance to high-quality projects concerning
immigration at local level and spreading their implementation
to a wider territory.
- This initiative is supported by the Veneto Region, Local
Authorities and Social Bodies, with the cooperation of
the Social Affairs Department of the Presidency of the
Council of Ministries.
Main
areas of intervention are: education, accommodation, general
services for immigrants and their relatives, managing
of migratory currents, immigrants network and legislation.
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Description
of the problem: |
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Since
some years, the availability of unemployed Italian work
force is going down in many areas of Northern Italy, following
a decrease in the unemployment rate. What's more, the ageing
of the Italian population is heavily reducing the available
labour force. Such a situation led to the employ of extra-EU
workers in the manufacturing and building sectors, family
services, agriculture and tourism, especially during the
harvest and the high season. The current legislation provides
for a limited number of immigrants to enter the country
every year. The government is willing to radically change
the tools so far used to determine the real needs of the
labour market, achieving a double target: meeting the needs
of the Italian enterprises and, at the same time, allowing
an integration compatible with Italian social needs, without
fuelling negative models of competition.
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Description
of the solution: |
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Any
decision about the quotas of immigrants - carried on so
far by the sole government - will be integrated by a stronger
cooperation with regions. The new law on immigration provides
for more involvement from the regions - that are in charge
of labour and training policies - as far as employment is
concerned.
In
view of the release of the annual Decree regulating the
quotas of immigrants allowed to enter the country, the Region
of Veneto has proposed a discussion board including the
Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and other players.
A working group including some experts will be appointed
to define a common pattern of analysis to meet the needs
of extra-EU workers and help to define the annual quotas
in a more proper way. It is likely to be a model that can
be transferred to other regions and used as an ordinary
tool to decide about the quotas for the future.
The implementation of this action includes agreements on
training and education with the seven provinces of the region,
by using guarantee funds for housing too. Manufacturers
and craftsmen get grants for the immigrants working for
them. Agricultural firms can take advantage of an ad hoc
fund to give a house to immigrants. A financial aid is granted
to the Prefecture of Treviso to build a first help centre.
Talking about communications, Italia Lavoro manages the
regional observatory and the regional network of desks on
a provincial basis. This stage of the project lasts for
three years. In 2001 five pilot projects have been launched;
during the year 2002 the project will be funded again and
will include programmes to re-integrate former prisoners
of foreign origin into society. Associations are also involved
and can ask for financial aid as well. All the participants
to the discussion board were committed to make new regional
laws on immigration by the year 2002.
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The key feature of the programme is its large scale, the
number of public and private players, the understanding
that only through cooperation and a strategic vision on
such an important issue for the future of all Europe, significant
results can be achieved.
The
project includes actions to give training, lodging, services
to immigrants workers and their families, management of
immigrants' flows, immigration network and regional legislation.
The
integral treatment that is given to the immigration field
and the multiagent collaboration are two features that make
of this action a good practice.
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Practical
considerations : |
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The financial resources needed have been: 7.5 million Eur
for training and 2 million Eur for lodging shared between
the provinces according to the number of immigrants living
on their territory. 3,5 millions Eur to agricultural firms
to solve the house issue plus a not better specified amount
for the Prefecture of Treviso to build a first help centre.
500.000 to charities, non-profit organisations and NGOs.
More than 1.2 millions Eur for 2002 to Veneto Lavoro to
bring Argentineans of Venetian origin back.
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IF
YOU WISH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT TO:
Regione
Veneto.
Assessorato
alle Politiche della Sicurezza e dei Flussi Migratori.
Unitàdi Progetto per la Sicurezza Pubblica e i Flussi
Migratori.
Ufficio Immigrazione.
Palazzo
Sheriman.
Cannaregio 168.
30121
Venezia
Tel. 041 2793103
Fax. 041 2793105
segr.immigr@regione.veneto.it
www.regione.veneto.it
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