Italy: Migrants hired in railway construction in Basilicata

Rome: Three young migrants in Basilicata, Italy, signed their first railway construction contracts, following a training program aimed at supporting labor integration through collaboration between institutions and industry partners.

Three young migrants have signed their first employment contracts in the railway construction sector in the Basilicata region of Italy. The contracts were finalized on February 11, following a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Anceferr, the Municipality of Rionero in Vulture, and Efmea.

The contracts were signed with a company that is part of the National Railway Construction United Association (Anceferr). This marks the first achievement of the MoU, which was established in 2024 by Anceferr, Arci Basilicata, the Rionero Municipality in Vulture (Potenza), and the construction training school Efmea in Potenza.

Launched in 2023, the project provided participants with both language and technical training, with Efmea offering support in workplace safety. In 2024, Anceferr began selecting beneficiaries for specialized training in language skills, technical knowledge, and professional orientation in the railway sector. The program included site visits to active railway projects and the creation of a “School-Worksite” initiative.

“A virtuous idea that became reality, a key finish line of our project aimed at socio-labor inclusivity to provide an answer to the chronic lack of labor and to promote integration,” said the President of Anceferr, Vito Miceli.

“We are convinced that the lack of labor force in the railway construction sector can be overcome only with concrete solutions and close cooperation between firms, local entities and the tertiary sector. Ancefurr aims to replicate this model across Italy, to realize great works planned by the PNRR (National Recovery and Resilience Plan)”, he added.

“Our objective is to be able to offer a shared path to manage social and work integration for a potentially large audience of non-EU citizens”, stated the President of the Municipality Council of Rionero in Vulture, Mauro Tucciariello.

Hiring these first three young workers is “a concrete step toward integration and autonomy,” said Paolo Pesacane, President of Arci Basilicata. “Employment is the most effective response for those fleeing war or seeking refuge from human rights violations.”

“The signing of these initial contracts is a testament to how well-structured training can facilitate youth integration through a system that effectively connects labor demand with supply,” concluded Efmea representatives Donato Claps and Carmine Lombardi.