The government is working on new mechanisms to increase the entry of non-EU foreign workers, moving beyond the rigid system of quotas that has so far shaped the decreto flussi. The goal is twofold: to overcome the chaos of the click day and to address the growing labor shortage affecting both businesses and families in Italy. The chosen path focuses on training programs in countries of origin, ensuring more stable arrivals and workers better prepared for market demands.
This shift, however, will not be immediate. Bureaucratic waiting times often exceed a year, and the available quotas are exhausted within seconds, turning the click day into a lottery that frustrates both employers and workers. Despite the organizational effort, the numbers remain low: in 2023-2024, only 16% of the workers requested through click days actually signed an employment contract, proving that the system is cumbersome and far from covering the real labor demand.
The new decree, approved on June 30 with a three-year projection, does open important prospects: starting from 2026, there will be no limits on entries in the field of care for the disabled and non-self-sufficient elderly, and more generally, the system aims for less rigid channels, better aligned with actual needs.
Still, Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano has warned not to expect quick changes: click days will not disappear overnight, nor will the quota ceilings. The transition will be gradual, with a period of overlap between the two systems. The aim is to make the process more efficient and business-friendly, while preserving the necessary controls that in recent years have reduced fraud and ensured greater transparency.
