Italy is facing a significant shortage of agricultural labor, with reports indicating the need for 100,000 additional workers to support the upcoming harvest season. This crisis has prompted the agricultural association Coldiretti to raise alarms about the pressing need for reforms to address the labor deficit.
The 'Click Day,' which is slated for February 12, 2025, marks the start of the application process for employers wishing to recruit workers from non-European countries under the new immigration framework known as the Decreto Flussi 2025. The decree allows for the entry of 110,000 foreign workers, with 47,000 positions allocated to the agricultural sector, reflecting the immense reliance of Italy's farms on foreign labor. Coldiretti has called attention to this issue, stating, "Nei campi italiani mancano oggi centomila lavoratori per assicurare le attività di raccolta" (Currently, 100,000 workers are missing from Italian farms to secure collection activities).
According to Coldiretti, about one million people currently work across Italy's 185,000 agricultural enterprises, accumulating more than 120 million workdays annually. Notably, over one-third of the workforce consists of foreign workers. Among them, the largest groups hail from Romania, India, Morocco, Albania, and Senegal. Despite this influx, the existing labor pool still falls short of the demands of the industry.
Coldiretti’s president, Ettore Prandini, emphasized the urgent need for solutions to bridge the gap between labor demand and supply. "È ora essenziale completare il percorso avviato negli ultimi mesi per far incontrare realmente domanda e offerta" (It is now imperative to complete the path initiated in recent months to truly meet demand and supply), he stated. The organization highlights significant challenges with the current bureaucratic processes, which frequently do not take the seasonal nature of agricultural work adequately. These issues often result in workers arriving too late to contribute during harvests, undermining agricultural operations. "Il problema principale è che l’attuale sistema non prende in considera8ione il carattere stagionale dell’attività agricola" (The main problem is the current system does not take the seasonal nature of agricultural workinto consideration), Prandini noted.
With climate change increasingly complicates long-term planning for agricultural activities, Coldiretti advocates for direct monitoring and management of migration flows. The group has urged policymakers to simplify procedures, thereby reducing bureaucratic barriers. These reforms would help to secure the necessary workforce to meet Italy's agricultural needs and diminish illegal activities, such as exploitation by caporali, illegal labor recruiters.
Addressing additional concerns, Coldiretti suggests enhancing training opportunities for incoming workers to prepare them adequately for their roles within the agricultural sector. Through training conducted overseas, potential employees could enter the workforce with the skills required for the job and adherence to safety standards. Coldiretti also draws attention to the challenges faced by workers already present within Italy, who arrived for agricultural work but found themselves stuck due to bureaucratic complications. Many end up living illegally and can’t be employed, even when companies are eager to hire them. This not only jeopardizes their livelihoods but also fuels organized crime and unfair competition within the industry.
Recognizing the necessity of adapting employment models to meet agricultural demands, Coldiretti has proposed to extend the duration of seasonal contracts for agricultural workers, initially established to replace vouchers, for the year 2025. This modification, integrated within legislative amendments, aims to alleviate the persistent issues companies face when hiring workers during peak seasons.
Leading up to the Click Day, the Italian agricultural sector is under immense pressure to recruit and retain the workers it needs to maintain productivity. Without prompt action to modify the regulatory framework around seasonal work and foreign labor, Italy risks jeopardizing the stability of its agricultural output, contributing to concerns over food security. The need for effective management of labor migration, enhanced training, and clear pathways to employment remains urgent to sustain this pivotal industry.
Italy's agricultural reliance on foreign workers highlights the necessity for legislative reform to overcome the bureaucratic barriers obstructing labor acquisition, ensuring the future of food production lines remains secure.