Italy decided to give an additional 10,000 visas
October 6, 20242 Mins Read

International Desk: The country has decided to issue an additional 10,000 migrant work visas next year to take care of the elderly and disabled in Italy. The country's government says it has been adopted as part of a new package of immigration rules. Coupled with an aging population and a rising birth rate, Italy has long faced a shortage of caregivers and charities including the Sant'Egidio Catholic group are lobbying the Italian government to allow more migrants from abroad, a Daily Mail report said.

Italy

The 'experimental' additional quota for caregivers will be in addition to the 452,000 visas announced last year for the 2023-2025 period. Which is increasing at a rate of about 150% in the previous three years. Prime Minister Georgia Meloni's right-wing government has taken measures to curb illegal arrivals, but has also taken measures such as legal immigration to address growing labor shortages.

The new Immigrant Visa Act also ensures strict anti-fraud safeguards. The country's Prime Minister Meloni has asked it to be vigilant to ensure it does not fall prey to infiltration and fraudulent exploitation by criminal groups, including the mafia. The government statement warned that the risk of fraud from countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka is high and stricter controls will be implemented in 2025 for such new visa applications from these countries.

At the same time, NGOs working with migrants on the Italian coast and charities rescuing migrant boats have been asked to be vigilant. Fines have been ordered against such organizations if they do not properly coordinate with the Italian Coast Guard during migrant rescue operations.