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First refugees arrive in Italy under new labour mobility scheme

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First refugees arrive in Italy under new labour mobility scheme

Following training in Egypt, refugees from Sudan and South Sudan will work in the shipbuilding sector under a scheme that pairs skilled refugees with job opportunities, with 100 more to arrive in 2025.
24 January 2025
Dut Dumo from South Sudan is welcomed by UNHCR staff at Trieste’s airport, Northern Italy. He is one of the first two refugees who have arrived with a new groundbreaking labor mobility scheme to be employed in Italy’s shipbuilding sector.

Dut Dumo from South Sudan is welcomed by UNHCR staff at Trieste’s airport, Northern Italy. He is one of the first two refugees who have arrived with a new groundbreaking labor mobility scheme to be employed in Italy’s shipbuilding sector.

In a groundbreaking step, Italy has welcomed its first two refugees through the innovative “Labor Corridors for Refugees” programme, which provides skilled refugees with legal pathways to employment in the country, helping them rebuild their lives while addressing Italy’s labour shortages.   

Having completed a specialized training course in Egypt, refugees Dut Dumo and Wala Tedros landed on 16 January in Trieste and are now set to work in the shipbuilding sector in the nearby port town Monfalcone on the Adriatic coast. 

Shortly before boarding the plane to Italy, Dumo expressed his happiness, saying:  “It is a very beautiful feeling. I am very optimistic about this beautiful opportunity”.

The programme is part of a pioneering approach aimed at offering both refugees and Italian businesses a mutually beneficial solution. Through the initiative, more refugees will arrive in the coming weeks from Uganda, Jordan and Colombia. Other training programmes will be launched in 2025, with more than 100 refugees expected to arrive in Italy by the end of the year.  

The initiative is spearheaded by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, and the Italian Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour, and the Interior, together with partners including Talent Beyond Boundaries, Diaconia Valdese, Pathways International and others in Italy and the countries of departure. 

A new pathway to employment for refugees 

The “Labour Corridors for Refugees” initiative connects the skills and potential of refugees with the specific labour needs of Italian companies. It provides refugees with an opportunity to enter the Italian workforce legally and safely, avoiding the dangerous journeys that many are forced to undertake. In addition to Egypt, the programme foresees training and employment of refugees in Uganda and Jordan, targeting the naval, IT and goldsmith sectors.  

By offering refugees the chance to work in these fields, Italy is not simply helping individuals to rebuild their lives but also addressing critical skill gaps in the country’s labour market. This initiative ensures that refugees can pursue employment opportunities that align with their skills and qualifications. 

Filling labour gaps while offering dignity and hope 

With over 122 million forcibly displaced people worldwide and 84 per cent living in low- or middle-income countries, the “Labour Corridors for Refugees” scheme aims to provide a more stable and dignified future for those who have fled conflict and persecution. For many refugees, the inability to return home and the lack of opportunities in counties of first asylum often leads to perilous journeys in the hands of traffickers.  

By offering a safer alternative and allowing refugees to find work aligned with their skills and aspirations, Italy will benefit from a motivated workforce that helps meet the country's labour demands in sectors like shipbuilding, construction and industrial trades. 

As a result of a new law introduced in 2024, Italy is among the first countries to create a safe, legal pathway for refugees living abroad to enter the workforce with a job visa allowing allows Italian businesses to select and hire refugees who have completed training programmes abroad, like those conducted in Egypt, Uganda and Jordan. 

This new initiative is part of a pledge the government of Italy made ahead of the Global Refugee Forum, committing 750 work permits are issued to refugees and stateless persons by 2025 and underscores Italy’s commitment to developing a model of migration management that not only meets the country’s economic needs but also offers refugees a chance to rebuild their lives with dignity.