Italy blocks over 3,300 work permits, cracks down on mafia-owned migrant trafficking ring

Italian police said Thursday (November 28) they had blocked and revoked 3,339 applications for non-EU workers as part of an investigation into migrant smuggling by organised crime.

The false requests for hiring non-EU labourers were submitted by 142 companies in agriculture, construction, and home care sectors, according to a joint statement by the Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza police forces.

Anti-Mafia prosecutors in Salerno, southern Italy, uncovered that these companies were being used by local criminal groups to facilitate illegal immigration. Authorities seized €1 million ($1.05 million) in cash from the groups in July, the statement said, according to Reuters.

Police measures have halted the issuance of permits in 29 provinces involved in the investigation, and those already granted have been revoked, officials said.

The crackdown is in line with the broader agenda of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing government, which has prioritised efforts to combat human trafficking and irregular migration.

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Italy, currently holding the G7’s rotating presidency, is pushing for international cooperation, with Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi announcing plans last month to create specialised G7 police units to investigate migrant trafficking networks.

How Italy’s crackdown on immigration is going

Meloni has also sought partnerships with the European Union and African nations to address migration. Last year, her government signed a controversial agreement with Albania to establish migrant reception centers in the Balkan country.

However, Italian courts have complicated its implementation, ruling that asylum seekers in Albanian camps must be processed in Italy.

Public response, too, has been mixed.

Supporters argue that these policies are necessary to maintain national security and uphold legal immigration channels. Critics, however, contend that such measures may violate human rights and international asylum obligations.

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There is an economic angle, too.

Italy’s economy remains reliant on immigrant labor, particularly in sectors like agriculture, construction, and caregiving. In 2023, 34 per cent of new hires for cooks and pizza makers were foreign nationals, highlighting the essential role of immigrants in the workforce.

With inputs from agencies