RSS
Italy lifts labor market restrictions for Romanians, Bulgarians in 2012
Restrictions imposed on Romanians and Bulgarians on the labor market in Italy are lifted from January 1, 2012, announced on Thursday the Ministry of Labor, Family and Social Protection (MMFPS) in Romania, and Minister Sulfina Barbu appreciated the Italian Executive's decision.
'We are pleased by the Italian Government's decision. By removing restrictions imposed to Romanian and Bulgarian workers, the Italian Executive sent an important signal, in agreement with the values and fundamental rights in the European Union. Italy no longer requires any exemption and shows thus that it observes the Accession Treaties of Romania and Bulgaria to the European Union. We appreciate this decision, the more so as about one million Romanians live and work in Italy. Italians in this way demonstrate that they recognize the added value that Romanians bring to economies of their destination countries ', Sulfina Barbu said.
The Romanian Embassy in Italy announced that, on Thursday, the Italian Foreign Ministry faxed a letter of the Director General for the European Union, Mario Bova, notifying termination of restrictions on the Italian labor market imposed to the Romanian workers, from December 31, 2011. This means that, from January 1, 2012, the Italian labor market is liberalized for the Romanian workers. Last steps of the Romanian Embassy in Italy on the full liberalization of the labor market in Italy were made on December 16, 2011.
'Letters of the Romanian Ambassador to Italy were remitted to the Italian ministers of foreign affairs, labor and interior. Those approaches were accompanied by meetings with experts from Italian relevant and decision-making institutions. The letter of the Italian side makes reference to the Romanian Embassy in Italy approaches of December 16, 2011. Italy's decision confirms the EC report of November 11, which says that Romanians have an important role in the economies of destination countries ( impact of mobility has led to an increase of 0.3 percent of GDP for EU-27 and 0.4 percent for EU-15)'', according to a MMFPS release.
Latest data from the National Institute of Statistics of Italy show that 968,576 Romanians live and work in this country. The Italian government decided to apply transitional arrangements for Romanian citizens from January 1, 2007.
At that time, the Italian officials have imposed restrictions on certain areas and then liberalized the labor market for free professions. Areas where Romanians have been able to work without restrictions are: agriculture, hotel and tourism services, household services and care services, construction, engineering, management and highly qualified labor, seasonal work. In all other areas, Romanian workers needed a work permit.