Ferrara They are not illegal immigrants, they have a permit for special protection reasons. They have not lost their jobs, they are employed, even on a permanent basis. They have not just arrived, they have been living in the Ferrara area for several years, they have a home, an educational and life path. Nevertheless, they risk losing everything. «The restrictions imposed by the Cutro Decree, converted into Law 50/2023 in May last year – explain the volunteers of the Cittadini del Mondo association – but above all its interpretation provided by the circulars sent by the Ministry of the Interior to the Police Headquarters, have created paradoxical situations therefore regular and integrated foreign citizens, when the permit expires, will no longer be able to convert it into a work permit. Last March 7, the Court of Bologna ruled favorably on the right to obtain a residence permit for workthus denying the interpretation of the law provided by the ministerial circulars, this could open the way to other appeals, but with huge times and costs”.
The painting and the stories
In our province there are several hundred people involved. A significant workforce in the construction, logistics, metalworking, agricultural and manufacturing, as well as a virtuous social component of the local communities, could find itself at any moment without anything left. They met for the first time in an assembly convened by Citizens of the world to listen to their stories and provide legal information that could help them navigate this complex legal landscape, but also political. About twenty participants, who then wrote a statement to ask citizens, with whom they have long shared rights and duties, to support them “in this just request for a fundamental right, that of being able to work without being discriminated against”. Some ask for anonymity so as not to take further risks at work. Dabo Lamine, of Senegalese origin, has lived in Ferrara since 2015 and works as metalworker in Crevalcore. «I have a permanent contract, my work is good, I like it, but my permit is about to expire, until last year there were no problems with the renewal, but now it seems that it is no longer possible, I don’t know what do, mine employer he asks me for the documents, but they don’t give them to me. And in addition to work, I risk losing my residence medical care, access to a current account, even the possibility of family reunification. A friend of mine who was very good at his job, had taken professional courses, and has now already been fired.” A major loss of workers and skills for many companies, which however cannot do anything for their foreign employees who find themselves in this anomalous condition: if they kept them in their place, it would be the use of clandestine labour. «I work in the human resources of a large company – says Adam Atik, president of Cittadini del Mondo – and the most we could do to help those who found themselves in this difficulty was to send a letter of sponsorship. The outcome of a law designed specifically for contain illegality, risks fueling illegal work, gangmastering, accidents at work and pockets of crime.” MG comes from Guinea, lives in Tresigallo and works in the countryside, his permit has expired, for six months he has been waiting for an appointment to understand his situation, but he is still waiting. «In the meantime I continue to pay food, bills, rent, but how long can I continue? I don’t want to go and steal or sell drugs, I just want to be able to work honestly.” Mamadou also comes from Guinea, has lived in Ferrara for eight years, and works in an industrial laundry for hospital supplies; his permit expires next week. «I made a renewal request last year and after seven months they gave me an appointment to tell me the outcome. I signed some papers, but I didn’t know that they were notifying me of the refusal, the volunteers explained it to me later.”
The appeal
«The Police Headquarters should make sure that they understand the contents of the documents that concern their life destiny – states Cittadini del Mondo – it is complicated for us to orient ourselves in the midst of bureaucracy, let alone for a foreigner. Now these people I’m in limbotrapped here without resources and without tools to get out of this condition”. To the question of where you are, DF replies “from Serravalle”, that is where he lives and works, it is that place where he feels he belongs, but already in the next few days he might have to leave.
