Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion

Database of labour market practices

This database gathers practices in the field of employment submitted by European countries for the purposes of mutual learning. These practices have proven to be successful in the country concerned, according to its national administration. The European Commission does not have a position on the policies or measures mentioned in the database.

Italy INSIDE – Strengthening the access to the labour market for beneficiaries of international protection
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Original Title: INSIDE – INSerimento Integrazione NordSuD inclusionE
Country: Italy
Responsible body: General Directorate for Immigration and Integration Policies in the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies. Among others, the General Directorate is a Managing Authority for National Migration Policies Fund, Intermediate Body for ESF funded National Operational Programme for Social Inclusion.
Name(s) of other organisations involved (partners / sub-contractors): National Agency for Active Labour Market Policies (ANPAL)
Start Year of implementation: 2015
End Year of implementation: 2017
EU policy relevance:
  • COUNCIL DECISION (EU) 2018/1215 of 16 July 2018 on guidelines for the employment policies of the Member States:
    • Guideline 6: Enhancing labour supply and improving access to employment, skills and competences Action Plan on Unaccompanied Minors 2010-2014;
    • Guideline 7: Enhancing the functioning of labour markets and the effectiveness of social dialogue;
    • Guideline 8: Promoting equal opportunities for all, fostering social inclusion and combatting poverty.
  • Common Basic Principle No.3 for Immigrant Integration Policy in the EU adopted by the Justice and Home Affairs Council in November 2004: “Employment is a key part of the integration process and is central to the participation of immigrants, to the contributions immigrants make to the host society, and to making such contributions visible”.
  • European Agenda for Integration adopted by the Commission in 2011.
  • European Agenda on Migration adopted by the Commission in 2015.
National labour market context: In 2015 approximately 150 000 migrants arrived in Italy and there were 83 970 requests for international protection. A number of migrants (approximately 90 000) were settled in the government reception centers. About 20 000 were hosted in the network of local authorities, that implemented reception projects for international asylum seekers, refugees and those granted humanitarian and subsidiary protection (the so-called SPRAR – System for the Protection of Asylum Seekers and Refugees).
Policy area: Active labour market policies, Education and training systems, Labour market participation
Specific policy or labour market problem being addressed:

According to the Legislative Decree No. 142/2015, the Italian reception system is divided into two levels of reception. In the first-line reception, asylum seekers are accommodated in the government centres where they are identified, subject to medical examination and where they can apply for international protection.

The second-line reception is provided under the System for the Protection of Asylum Seekers and Refugees (SPRAR), a publicly funded network of local authorities and NGOs where assistance and integration services are provided. Its aim is to provide support for each individual in the reception system through a set of tailor-made activities designed to enable each person to regain a sense of independence and consequently enjoy effective involvement in life in Italy, in terms of employment and housing integration, access to local services, social interaction and integration into the education system.

Italy was a key destination country for asylum seekers during the 2015-2016 refugee crisis, in a period of difficult economic and labour market situation. Beneficiaries of international protection, in particular women, are one of the most vulnerable groups on the labour market. The lack of coordination between integration agencies and employment services, the negative attitudes of some employers, and the legal/administrative obstacles to legal employment often push refugees and asylum seekers into the shadow economy, where they can be at risk of exploitation and abuse. Measures enhancing access to the labour market for migrants in the second-phase of the reception process is a key for their integration.
Aims and objectives of the policy or measure: To support beneficiaries of international protection to access to the labour market and gain self-sufficiency.
Main activities / actions underpinning the policy or measure:
  • Skills and needs assessment;
  • Delivery of tailor-made active labour market services for each individual (tutoring, counselling, career guidance, job orientation, traineeships);
  • Provision of an endowment to intermediary organisations that provide job orientation and active labour market services (EUR 2 000 for each participant supported); hosting organisations (companies, enterprises, etc.) are paid for providing the traineeship activities (EUR 500 for 16 hours of tutoring); refugees are paid for attending the traineeship (EUR 500 per month up to a maximum of EUR 3 000).
  • Job matching, job searching, coaching.
Geographical scope of policy or measure: National
Target groups: Low-skilled people, Other
Outputs and outcomes of the policy or measure:

753 traineeships were provided for refugees settled in the SPRAR reception system.

Immediately after the end of the traineeship, 10% of trainees were hired. According to INSIDE monitoring, six months after the end of the traineeship the share of employed slight increased (14%, end of March 2017). The employment rate reached 33% one year after the closure of the INSIDE Project (November 2017).
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