MANILA – The Philippine Embassy in Rome expressed its appreciation for the Italian government’s recent announcement, which includes Filipino nationals in the list of non-European Union (EU) workers eligible to enter Italy through the decreto flussi or flows decree program.
The decision comes as a recognition of the high demand for Filipino workers across various sectors in Italy. Ambassador Neal Imperial highlighted the long-standing reputation of Filipinos in providing high-quality work, making them preferred candidates for employment opportunities in the country.
The decreto flussi program serves as Italy’s immigration policy, outlining the entry guidelines and quotas for non-EU nationals. This program opens for a limited period each year, based on Italy’s immigration and labor market conditions. Individuals interested in applying for the program must wait for the Italian government’s announcement of quotas since work permits may not always be immediately available.
Under the latest Prime Minister’s Decree, Italy has established a three-year forecast for the admission of foreign workers, with a total of 452,000 foreign citizens set to be admitted for reasons of seasonal and non-seasonal work. The quotas for each year are as follows: 136,000 foreign citizens for 2023, 151,000 for 2024, and 165,000 for 2025.
The non-seasonal subordinate workers’ quota is set at 52,770, covering sectors such as road transportation, construction, tourism, mechanics, telecommunications, food, shipbuilding, and more. Specific quotas are also allocated for the family and socio-sanitary assistance sectors.
Italy has become home to a significant number of Filipinos, with the latest data from the Italian Ministry of Interior indicating that there are 166,718 Filipinos residing in the country. The metropolitan cities of Rome and Milan serve as primary destinations, hosting approximately 50 percent of the Filipino migrant population.
Remittances from Italy to the Philippines have played a vital role in the economy, with the Philippines ranking as the third-largest recipient of remittances from Italy. In 2022, remittances from Italy to the Philippines amounted to USD 151.525 million, according to the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.
The Philippine Embassy in Rome emphasizes that access to the decreto flussi system for subordinate work can only be done through an individual and nominal request by an employer in Italy. Job orders from Filipino workers must be verified by the Migrant Workers Office (MWO) in Rome, and the employer or recruitment agency must submit the necessary documentary requirements for prospective workers to obtain overseas Filipino worker passes.
The MWO in Rome is dedicated to assisting qualified applicants and ensuring the verification of job orders through the decreto flussi system, thereby safeguarding individuals against illegal recruitment and scams.
With the inclusion of Filipino nationals in the decreto flussi program, new opportunities await Filipinos seeking employment in Italy, fostering bilateral ties and promoting the contributions of the Filipino community within the country. (Isabel Almonte)
