(ANSAmed) - An estimated half a million illegal workers in Italy will have the opportunity to become legal under a new decree introducing harsher sanctions for those employing immigrants without a regular permit, and granting temporary permits for immigrants reporting their exploiters. Employers will also have the chance to legalize immigrants who are illegally employed by filing an application between September 15 and October 15 and paying 1,000 euros per employee plus six months worth of salaries, welfare and taxes.Immigration: Countdown for regularization in Italy
Harsher sanctions for employers of illegal immigrants
Immigrants' demonstration in Rosarno, Italy (archive).
The decree implements a 2009 European directive against the illegal work of aliens aimed at boosting cooperation between member states against illegal immigration by banning the employment of foreign workers without regular permits and providing for sanctions against the transgressors.
Under the measure, harsher sanctions will be imposed against those employing more than three irregular workers, minors under 16, or exploiting workers under Italy's criminal law.
Workers who have been exploited can apply for a six-month humanitarian permit, which can be renewed for a year or for a longer period in case of a criminal trial.
Employers of irregular foreign workers for three months at least can declare the work relation between September 15 and October 15, with the exception of those who have been found guilty in the past five years of crimes connected to the illegal employment or exploitation of foreigners or those who have denounced foreign workers but subsequently failed to legalize them.
The measure does not include foreign workers who have been expelled in the past for public security reasons or on terror charges nor those found guilty of crimes for which Italian law provides for mandatory arrest if caught red-handed. If the regularization procedure is granted the green light, all administrative and criminal charges connected with the illegal employment declared will be annulled.
Monday 30 July 2012
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