It's called Work and Labour, like the Benedictine rule of consecration to work, and is based in a region, Sicily, which has not a few difficulties regarding work, especially if of foreign origin.
Et-Labora is a Sicilian Region project – Department of Family, Social Policies and Labour – Special Office for Immigration, co-funded by the European Union (Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-2020), initiated in synergy with the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the Ministry of the Interior, made possible thanks to the team of Language Mediators from Soc. Coop. MediHospes, ANPAL and the IT company SIKUEL, a company from the Maggioli Group.
Et-Labora is a response of the Sicilian institutions where their absence becomes an opportunity for crime to profit. It is concrete commitment towards the full integration of a workforce at risk of remaining in the shadows, and dying there. It is proof of how technology can be a tool for improve quality of life of the citizens, both foreign and Italian, and it was the result of a collaboration between various actors on the ground (institutions, employment centres, intermediaries and companies) which is being undertaken safety net amidst the waves of exploitation. In a word, it is hope, in a region ravaged by the scourge of illegal hiring practices, yet one that is determined to break free from outdated and immoral ways of thinking, and from inhumane and cruel realities, by launching an innovative initiative that will, it is hoped, pave the way for similar schemes across the country.
The Et-Labora project aims to strengthen and expand the services provided by the 65 Job Centres across the region, promoting employment, helping people into work and raising awareness of these services amongst both migrant and Italian communities. The objectives are as follows:
STRENGTHENING AND EXPANDING THE SERVICES PROVIDED
A dedicated IT system has been developed to improve access to services.
which takes its name from the project itself: a web platform designed to manage requests and monitor overall supply and demand.
The design and development of the Et Labora IT system has been entrusted to SIKUEL, a company within the Maggioli Group, which already demonstrated a successful experience during the height of the pandemic at the Ragusa Multifunctional Centre with the digitised management of practices related to residence permits.
Through the Et-Labora.it platform, it is possible to consult the catalogue and book one or more services provided by the CPIs, selecting from the available languages, which include: English, French, Spanish, Arabic, and Ukrainian. At each stage of the booking process, there is a button to request Language Assistance via telephone or email.
Language assistance is also available to centre staff, who can rely on the support of Soc. Coop. MediHospes to provide immediate assistance with enquiries. Thanks to the Et-Labora IT system, staff can also send messages to users via text message or email in one of the available languages, thanks to the platform’s simultaneous translation feature.
The system manages bookings made by CAFs and Socialisation Centres, which can book multiple services to be provided at the same CPI.
Et-Labora.it is not only accessible via the web, but is also installed on all the multimedia kiosks present in the 64 CPIs and is available as an APP for smartphones on the PlayStore and AppStore.
PROMOTING EMPLOYMENT AND INTEGRATION INTO THE WORKPLACE
The Et Labora platform includes a section dedicated to matching supply and demand.
On the one hand, therefore, companies post their job vacancies, which are then verified and published by the relevant Jobcentres; on the other hand, users can express their interest by submitting an unsolicited application, all of which is, of course, translated into English, French, Spanish, Arabic and Ukrainian, with the assurance of receiving language support on request. Users can also indicate their availability for one or more sectors of employment.
To provide a comprehensive overview of active labour market policies, a section has been set up dedicated to news and regulatory updates, managed by CPI managers and the relevant department.
GREATER AWARENESS
With Et-Labora, Jobcentres are reaching out to the foreign community by developing tailored services and processes. This is because a more informed and actively engaged user base is one that is better aware of its rights and responsibilities, as well as the opportunities that society offers. Men and women who are more in control of their own choices and, as a result, less vulnerable to exploitation.
“The opportunity to learn about the various services provided by the Sicilian Regional Government in the field of employment policy, combined with the knowledge that these services are easily accessible – either through the support of language mediators who can act as intermediaries or by selecting one’s native language for online navigation – translates into an’an opportunity for personal redemption and the institutional fight against illegal hiring practices” – explains the doctor Michela Bongiorno, Head of the Special Immigration Office at the Regional Department for Family, Social Policy and Employment. In combating exploitation, we realised that where institutions don't reach, an absence is created that is immediately exploited by organised crime; making the migrant aware and more autonomous means liberating them, to give them the means to assert their own identity and dignity. To free them from the inhumane and degrading conditions in which they are forced to live if they want to work, where they must pay for a piece of cardboard over their heads and a tiny space to rest at night, or for a little water to quench their thirst or some food to regain their strength. Our region is, unfortunately, full of examples of this kind, perhaps even just a stone’s throw from our homes, but we often end up looking the other way; well, ET Labora aims to be a a path towards the rule of law, towards the full integration of foreigners into the societies that welcome them, and a optimal meeting point between supply and demand, by raising awareness among businesses, which is our next short-term goal”.
Pictured: Dr Michela Bongiorno
And the initial results They only serve to validate the path taken: active since June 2022, Et-Labora has recorded over 6000 requests managed by the CPI.
An initial analysis of the request data provides useful information:
- 62% Males – 38% Females
- Over 60 nationalities
- 29% Tunisia, 19% Morocco, 8% Sri Lanka, 7% Bangladesh, etc.
- Key services requested: Service agreement – DID – Self-employment
With ET Labora, Sicily chooses to embark on the path of redemption by starting a cutting-edge project throughout Italy, chooses the strength of collaboration in the fight against illegality, chooses to implement digital solutions for managing supply and demand in the world of work, but above all chooses to view the potential workforce (foreign and otherwise) not as an economic, social, or humanitarian burden, but as a precious resource for the region's growth.
