Italy to open its doors to 500,000 migrant workers. Will Bangladeshis be among them?

If the 2022 government decree on annual quotas for foreign workers remains unchanged, Bangladesh is likely to stay on the list of eligible countries

Italy has announced plans to bring in nearly 500,000 foreign workers over the next three years through legal channels.

If the rules of the Italian government's “Decreto Flussi” decree defining the annual quotas for foreign workers, in effect since 2022, remain unchanged, Bangladesh is likely to stay on the list of eligible countries this year as well.

The decision was made during a cabinet meeting on Monday, local time. However, full details will be available only after the official gazette is published.

According to reports in the Italian media, around 450,000 workers entered Italy legally between 2023 and 2025. Over the next three years, around 500,000 non-EU workers will be allowed to enter the country in phases.

Of these, 164,850 workers will be permitted entry in 2026, 165,850 in 2027, and 166,850 in 2028.

Among them, 88,000 to 90,000 workers each year will be allowed to enter under the seasonal or temporary visa category. However, those receiving seasonal visas must return to their home countries upon completion of their permitted stay, authorities said.

In addition, 76,850 non-seasonal or permanent workers will be allowed to enter annually. Each year, between 13,600 and 14,200 domestic workers or caregivers for the elderly will also be permitted permanent entry.

Moktar Hossain Bhuiyan, a Bangladeshi immigration expert based in Rome, said: “So far, there has been no confirmation about whether Bangladesh will remain on the list. But this year, the government will conduct strict scrutiny before allowing workers entry.”

Another Bangladeshi expatriate, MK Rahman Liton, said: “Every worker should receive proper training before coming to Italy. That way, they won’t face difficulties finding jobs after arriving.”

However, due to various "irregularities and visa complications", nearly 60,000 work visa applications are currently stuck at the Italian embassy in Dhaka. Despite repeated protests by visa applicants in front of the embassy, the issues remain unresolved.

In this regard, Italian Ambassador Antonio Alessandro has repeatedly blamed the frequent submission of “fake documents” in visa applications for the problem.