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Community Orientation

Guidebook

ITALY

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This publication was created as part of the STIRE: SUPPORTING THE INTEGRATION OF THE RESETTLED project. The project is funded by the Fund for Asylum, Migration and Integration of the European Union.

The content of this publication represents only the views of the author and is the sole responsibility of the author. The European Commission is not responsible for the use made of the information contained therein.

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This guidebook is produced as a part of a project “STIRE: Supporting the Integration of Resettled” which is carried out in Austria, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania . The objective of STIRE is to facilitate integration of refugees that are resettled in one of the above-mentioned countries, prior to departure and after they arrive . However, the information provided in this booklet can also be helpful to other refugees on their way to establish a new life in one of the mentioned EU countries . In this guidebook you will find basic information about support services to help refugees get started, obtain social and healthcare services, learn the language and new skills, start work, get settled and successfully move forward with their lives . It does not contain detailed procedures, but it rather serves as a starting point and a reference to available help and support .

You can find additional information about international protection (refugee status), the resettlement process and other useful information for refugees in one of the STIRE countries on the Internet at the project website .

This guidebook is also a source of useful information for helpers in the local communities in one of the mentioned countries, who work with refugees, providing basic information and a list of resources and contacts that can help make the integration process easier for everyone involved .

Community Orientation

Guidebook

Italy

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HOUSING

1. Housing

1.1. RECEPTION

The reception phase for resettled refugees is the period following their arrival in their country of resettlement. The length of the reception phase is not defined - it often refers to the first few weeks after arrival, but can be used to refer to periods of up to 6 months following arrival. Arrangements for the reception of resettled refugees differ from country to country . The organisations and agencies involved in reception also differ, and can include civil society organisations, central government agencies and regional, city and municipal authorities . In Italy, as a resettled refugee, you can tempo- rarily live in accommodation provided by the Federation of Evangelical Churches (Fcei) and the Community of Sant’Egidio. In these communities you can live for free, alone or with your family, for a year or until you find another accommodation.

Further information and useful contacts:

• Federation of Evangelical Churches

• Community of Sant’Egidio

1.2. GOVERNMENT FUNDED/SUBSIDISED HOUSING

As a refugee/resettled, you have the right to live in public houses made available by the regions or other local authorities by applying to the municipality in which you reside, under the same conditions as nationals . It is important starting the proce- dure for residence in time, in order for beneficiaries to access public housing within the limits of availability in each region .

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1.3. RENTING APARTMENT/HOUSE

There are several ways to find an apartment. The most effective ones are:

• Writing an announcement in local newspapers or on the internet. Specify in detail who you are (age, job, family situation, gender) and the type of apartment you are looking for (area, size, maximum sustainable spending, whether you want it furnished or not)

• Internet: there are very useful websites in which you can look for an apartment (e .g . Immobiliare .it)

• Estate agency: professionals in this field, they will help you to find an apartment and keep you update on the best offers . The service is not for free and it can might be expensive .

There are, of course, different factors that influence the price of the apartment:

specifically, the city in which you live, the distance from the city centre, the size and comfort that it provides . To rent a house, you have to sign a rental contract that establishes the monthly rent costs and the duration, among other things.

Before signing the rental contract, make sure you understand all the contractual conditions and pay attention on them .

The contract must be registered with the Agenzia delle Entrate (Income Revenue Authority) within 30 days of the signing of the contact. You have the right to purchase a house under the same conditions as Italian citizens . At the same time, as a tenant, you have duties to fulfil: the payment of the monthly fee on the appointed day, the return of the undamaged property and everything provided for in the contract .

Further information:

• https://italychronicles.com/how-to-find-an-apartment-to-rent-in-italy

• https://www .wantedinrome .com/news/renting-in-italy .html

1.4. OWNERSHIP

The Italian law allows the purchase of a property by refugees/resettled with a regular residency permit. There are some benefits from government for the purchase of the first house, in terms of tax benefits.

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HEALTHCARE

2. Healthcare

As a resettled refugee you have the right to general outpatient and specialist medical examinations, hospitalisation, vaccinations, blood tests, X-rays, ultrasounds and medicines . Registration to the National Health Service (SSN) is compulsory for you and your family members. Asylum seekers and beneficiaries of international protection are required to register with the National Health Service . They enjoy equal treatment and full equality of rights and obligations with Italian citizens regarding the mandatory contributory assistance provided by the National Health Service in Italy; healthcare is also guarantee to legally residents relatives . Once you have regis- tered, you will receive a health card as an identification document. You have the right to receive healthcare for free or for money . The amount to be paid is called

“ticket” and depends on the region you are living in . To register to the SSN, you must go to the ASL of the territory in which you have your residence or dwell (indi- cated in the residence permit), producing the following documents:

• Identity card

• Tax code

• Residence permit

• Self-certification of residence.

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• Medici Senza Frontiere (“Doctors Without Borders”):

0688806000 msf@msf .it

• Croce Rossa Italiana (“Italian Red Cross”):

800166166 urp@cri .it Here below a list of useful contacts:

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• Emergency

info@emergency .it • MEDU – Medici per i Diritti Umani:

0697844892

posta@mediciperidirittiumani .org

2.1. HEALTH INSURANCE

If you already have a health card and a family doctor and you want to go for a medical examination, you can simply go to your family doctor’s office. In case you need a specialist visit, the family doctor can write a prescription (or “ricetta”) you will then have to bring with you at the hospital, where you will usually have to pay the ticket .¹ To book an appointment, you can call the free number of the hospital or visit the C.U.P. (“Centro Unico Prenotazioni”) of the ASL, the office that manages all bookings for medical examinations . If you need a visit to a private practice where you will have to pay a fee, you can directly call the practice to book a visit . As for vaccinations, you can ask your general practitioner or go to the ASL’s vaccination office.

2.2. PRIMARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES

Primary health care is a service you have the right to freely access from the moment you register to the SSN . This service allows you to choose your general practitioner or paediatrician of your choice at the time of registration consulting a list of available doctors at the relevant ASL office. It also gives you the right to replace them by making a simple request . The general practitioner and the paediatrician of your choice can examine you and your children up to the age of 14 in their office or at your house if you cannot move, prescribe medications, analyses and specialist examinations, issue certificates and request hospitalisation if they deem it necessary. Remember that the choice of a paediatrician is mandatory if your children are aged under 6 years. Primary healthcare also includes the immediate assistance of a doctor at your house, which you can request at any time in cases of serious need, and the medical service provided by doctors who have an agreement with the ASL at night times or during holidays in independent facilities located in each city .

2.3. SECONDARY HEALTHCARE SERVICES

To do a specialist examination, you must ask your general practitioner to write a prescription which, together with your health card, you must then present to the

1 N.B. If you are an asylum seeker in the first six months after applying for asylum, you do not have to pay the "Ticket" because you are not allowed to work.

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HEALTHCARE

ASL booking office of the territory in which you have your residence. Some ASLs have a telephone system that helps you reach out to a specialist and book a visit . With the health card, you can See a specialist doctor (e .g . a gynecologist, a cardiol- ogist, etc). Besides, you can also go to laboratories or private clinics located in each city if you need a specific examination. In both cases, you will have to pay a fee unless you fall into one of the following categories:

• social pensioners and dependent family members;

• unemployed and pensioners aged over 60 years;

• disabled civilians with a disability of more than 2/3 or with an accompanying allowance;

• people injured at work and all categories of citizens exempt for pathology or particular conditions .

Nevertheless, there are some specialist visits that you can request free of charge, such as early diagnosis of cancer, non-compulsory vaccinations and tests to protect pregnancy . For further information you can directly ask the family doctor or paediatrician of your choice .

2.4. EMERGENCY HEALTHCARE SERVICES

In cases of serious emergency (accidents, injuries and any situation endangering your life) you can go to the Emergency Room of the nearest hospital, ask for the intervention of a doctor by calling the free number 118 active 24 hours a day, or go to the nearest medical guard (remember to look at the scheduled hours). You should bear in mind that when you call the 118, you need to communicate calmly and accurately:

• what happened (accident or other);

• where you are (town hall, street, house number, telephone);

• number of people involved.

2.5. PSYCHOLOGICAL HEALTH

Mental health care is provided by the National Health Service in a variety of commu- nity mental health centres, community psychiatric diagnostic centres, general hospital inpatient ward and residential and semi-residential facilities . Asylum seekers suffering from mental health problems are entitled to the same right to access to health treatment as provided for nationals by Italian legislation. In practice, they may benefit from specialised services provided by the National Health System and by specialised NGOs or private entities . Psychological services are offered by different organisations:

• Servizio Accoglienza cittadini extra e comunitari, Asp Palermo – Distretto 12

• Medici per i diritti umani

• Centro Penc

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3. Social services and welfare

Social welfare rights include financial or other aid provided by the government to the people in need. These benefits regard social, health or work needs. In Italy, welfare benefits are connected to the employment, nationality (Italian, EU or Non-EU citizen) and the status of resident. So, if you are a foreigner with permanent resi- dence permit and employed, you have the right to have equal treatment of access to social welfare with Italians . People in irregular status have the right to emergency and primary medical treatment, but you cannot use economic welfare benefits or health insurance .

3.1. FINANCIAL BENEFITS/SUBSIDIES

The different types of social services seek to address the needs of: people with physical or mental problems (or suffering from HIV and tuberculosis); elderly people;

pregnant women or women who have suffered violence in Italy or in another country . The social services you can request in these cases normally include assistance provided by someone who comes to your home and help you manage your problem, food or meal vouchers, transport to places where you need to go (e.g. a hospital), and assistance with finding a job.

3.2. SOCIAL SERVICES (NON-FINANCIAL)

In order to get access to welfare benefits you have to register in nearest C.A.F. The C.A.F. (Fiscal Assistance Centers) are organizations that support employees, retired people and employers in various obligations, such as the compilation of the different requests, tax returns of all kinds and other. The first thing to do is to get a residence

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SOCIAL SERVICES AND WELFARE

in a municipality where you live . To do this you should have a valid permit of stay with your address and you need to be registered in the municipal list (anagrafe) which in Italy are two separate procedures . Once you get the residency, you can access the following services:

• Social services (accidents on the job, illness and invalidity, pension)

• the nursery schools

• participation in public housing tenders

Worth of mention is the Centro ascolto della Caritas di Ragusa:

caritas@diocesidiragusa .it .

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4. Education

In Italy, there are both public and private education systems . Access to public education is free for citizens of all nationalities and is compulsory from 6 to 16 years old . For further information regarding the school enrolment check the website of MIUR .

4.1. CHILDREN AND YOUTH

The education system is divided into five phases:

• Nursery school (Scuola Dell’Infanzia)

• Primary school (Scuola Elementare)

• Lower Secondary School (Scuola Secondaria di Primo Grado or Scuola Media Inferiore)

• Upper Secondary school (Scuola Secondaria di Secondo Grado or Scuola Media Superiore)

• University

Kindergarten and primary education

Italian law provides that all children have the right and the duty to go to school from 6 to 16 years of age . As a resettled child, your minor children also fall into this cate- gory and therefore can attend classes and participate in school activities . Since your children will be automatically integrated into the compulsory National Education System, you will just have to take care of their enrolment using the online platform of the Ministry of Education, University and Research (MIUR) . You can enrol your children in the first year of primary school or in the first and second grade of secondary school each year during the period between January and February.

Enrolment is online and is compulsory for all public schools with the exception of

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EDUCATION

kindergartens, even without the necessary anagraphical and legal documentation . If you do not have access to the online system, you can go to school and the staff will do it for you . To choose a school, you can take a look at the MIUR online platform called “Scuola in chiaro”, where there is a list of Italian schools .

Secondary education

Secondary schools have a five-years duration and the student completes his study from the age of 13 or 14 up to 18 . They are divided into three categories:

• High school, which offers theoretical training with a specialization in a specific field of study (humanities, science, art, etc.);

• Technical Institute, where training is both theoretical and practical, with a specialization in a specific field of study (economics, humanities, adminis- tration, law, technology, tourism);

• Professional Institute, more practical learning such as engineering, agri- culture, gastronomy . It allows students to look for a job as soon as they have finished their studies.

At the end of their five-years studies, students will receive their official certification, the so-called “diploma” .

Higher education

The university education system is composed by two levels of education:

• a first level that lasts three years (Degree/Bachelor’s Degree);

• a second level that lasts two years (Master’s Degree).

To enrol in University, you must have a high school diploma . Foreign citizens with a regular residence permit or foreign citizens residing abroad in possession of a study visa for Italy have access to University, by presenting the original copy (or certified copy) of final secondary education leaving qualification, obtained after at least 12 scholastic study years, or a fully legal substitute certificate. Each institution must organise a test of proficiency in the Italian language, mandatory for all Bachelor Degree and Master Degree (the test of proficiency in the Italian language is not required for courses held in other languages).

Useful documents and contacts:

• Scholarships for refugees (Borse di studio per studenti con status di tito- lari di protezione internazionale/rifugiati)

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4.2. ADULTS

As an adult, you will be automatically integrated into the compulsory National Education System . Additionally, you also have the right to enrol and attend the free courses organised by CPIA (Provincial Centres for Adult Education) to obtain the Secondary School Diploma .

Everyone is welcome to enrol at CPIA provided you are 16 years or older . No previous qualifications are necessary . To enrol, present your completed enrolment form to the school in your area together with your ID documents, provided you are in a possession of a valid residence permit .

For further information:

• What is the CPIA?

Useful contacts:

• CPIA Palermo 1, CPIA Palermo 2, CPIA Agrigento, CPIA Ragusa .

4.3. RECOGNITION OF QUALIFICATIONS

If you already have a job title or qualification in your country of origin and want them to be recognized in Italy, you should ask for the “recognition of foreign qual- ifications” to one of the competent offices (schools, universities, MIUR or other specific ministries) and submit the documents listed on the MIUR’s website. The qualification must be translated and stamped by the Italian Embassy.

If you are in possession of a professional qualification obtained abroad and who intend to work in Italy you need to fill in the online application form on the website of the Ministry of Economic Development and show the documentation required² . CIMEA – Information Centre on Academic Mobility and Equivalence

2 Riconoscimento delle qualifiche professionali estere: documentazione

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WORK

5. Work

5.1. RIGHT TO WORK

The right to work is one of the fundamental rights the Italian Constitution grants to you once resettled on the Italian territory . You have the same rights Italian citizens have when it comes to matters related to employment, self-employment, registration to professional bodies and professional training . You can start working legally in Italy when your application for international protection is accepted and your residence permit issued . Refugees and asylum seekers with residence permits may freely register with Public Employment Services, Centri per l’Impiego; registration is not mandatory, but it facilitates gaining access to some services and benefits, such as the exemption from health services costs, which is commonly referred to as the “ticket” . The exemption from the payment of the ticket is granted to all asylum seekers in the period that they are not allowed to work following the initial asylum application .

Useful link and contacts:

http://www .caritasroma .it/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/guida-lavoro-stranieri .pdf

5.2. HOW TO SEARCH FOR A JOB?

In order to register for the Public Employment Services, you need to show the following documents: identity card, tax code, copy of residency permit, any certif- icate of study or training you own.

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Once registered in Public Employment Services, asylum seekers and refugees can access all job-related services under the same conditions as national citizens .

How to write a CV: the CV is a document which indicates your personal data, your competences, your previous learning and working experiences . There is a model CV prepared by Europass and downloadable from the site www .europass-italia . it. If you need help in filling your CV, you can contact the Public Employment Services (CPI) and they will help you write it.

5.3. EMPLOYMENT CONTRACTS

In Italy, there are 3 types of employment relationship:

• Permanent, fixed-term or seasonal employment;

• Para-subordinate work (e.g. project contract);

• Self-employment.

Subordinate or para-subordinate work is a work relationship regulated by a contract:

the employer establishes how to carry out the activities; the employees receives a salary for the activity carried out and he has rights and duties established by law:

working hours, days-off, sick leave, salary, occupational safety .

Self-employment: if you are a foreign national intending to become a self-employed worker or to set-up a business and become an entrepreneur, assistance and support will be available to you through the services provided by the network of employ- ment services, of associations, private agencies and chambers of commerce. These authorities will help you with consulting, guidance, tutoring and training services, facilitating the access to incentives for business creation and to financial resources and microcredit .

5.4. SALARIES, SOCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS AND TAXES

Italian law does not provide for a statutory minimum wage but in the appropriate National Collective Agreement (NCA) minimum wages for each contractual level are normally established for each sector . The payment date and the calculation basis of the contractual items (e.g. notice period, compensation during illness) are also usually stipulated in the NCAs .

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WORK

5.5. RIGHTS OF EMPLOYEES

Workers have rights and duties established by law, regarding:

• Working hours: 40 hours per week, up to 8 hours per day . Overtime must be paid and restrained;

• Salary: it depends on type of work, qualifications and sectors;

• Weekly rest: The worker is entitled to at least one day off each week (usually on Sunday). This day must last for 24 consecutive hours;

• Days off: Days off for workers cannot be less than 20 days per year;

• Sick leave: In the event of illness or accident at work, workers are guaran- teed to keep their jobs for the time stipulated in the contract;

• Occupational safety: Employers must implement all safety measures, provided by law, regulations and contracts, necessary to protect the health and physical integrity of the workers;

• Trade Union activities: workers have the right to participate to trade unions activities; strike is an important right of worker and cannot cause dismissal;

• Maternity leave: female workers has the right to 5 months absence from work during their pregnancy; during this period, the worker is regularly paid and she cannot be dismissal from the beginning of gestation until the baby’s one year old .

Alongside the rights, workers have also duties. In particular, workers must be:

• Diligent, i .e . doing his job with care and commitment;

• Must behave fairly towards the employer, not carrying out activities in contrast with those of the company and not spreading information about the company;

• Observe the employer’s instructions .

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6. Learning the language

Learning Italian is a fundamental step of social integration process . Being able to speak Italian gives refugees the opportunity to integrate themselves into the hosting community, to build relationships and having a better understanding of Italian culture and society . Moreover, with the recent changes in Italian legislation – Decree 133/2018 so-called “Salvini Decree” – in order to obtain Italian citizenship, it is necessary to demonstrate a level of knowledge of Italian equal to B1, according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).

6.1. CHILDREN AND YOUTH

Since the knowledge of Italian language is recognised as essential for the integration process, children and youth have the opportunity to learn Italian directly at school, attending classes and talking with teachers and classmates . However, it is important to underline that there are no specific classes for foreigners; migrant and refugees often address to local organisations or associations providing assistance .

6.2. ADULTS

To attend Italian language courses, foreigners can enrol in the CPIA or one of the four Certifying Bodies recognized by the MIUR . Moreover, there are different associations that can guide foreigners in the way through the Italian language: La Scuola di Lingua italiana per Stranieri dell’Università degli Studi di Palermo, Io parlo italiano, Associazione Oltre l’Occidente, Biblioteche di Roma and a networks of private organizations that organise free Italian language courses to migrants (Scuole Migranti).

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LEARNING THE LANGUAGE

6.3. ONLINE LANGUAGE LEARNING

There are also different online courses which provide free language courses for foreigners: Caffè scuola, Il database elearning di italiano per stranieri, One world- risorse di italiano online, Italiano per stranieri Loescher and a networks of private organizations that organise free Italian language courses to migrants (Scuole Migranti).

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7. Community engagement

In Italy there are more than two thousand migrant associations registered . Usually, their main activities include cultural and social promotion of the country of origin in Italy and integration activities. These activities include educational activities – language courses, recreation activities, cultural mediation, leisure or sports activity, housing support or job counselling for the newly arrived migrants . Everyone can freely participate in these activities .

Volunteering is also highly encouraged: refugees have the possibility to participate in National Civil Service .

Asylum seekers and refugees can freely participate in the activities of Italian associations too . There are many religious or non-governmental associations in Italy running social inclusion projects addressed to migrants, asylum seekers, refugees offering opportunities for socialization, orientation in the cities, recreational activities, training courses, volunteering experiences .

For further information, check the websites here below:

• CESIE

• Caritas

• Centro Astalli Palermo

• SEND

• HRYO Human right organisation

• CEIPES

• Caritas Ragusa

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

• Arci Porco Rosso

• Centro per lo sviluppo creativo Danilo Dolci

• Cooperativa Proxima di Ragusa

There are also different diaspora organisations, such as:

• Associazione dei giovani Senegalesi Niofar

• Associazione Jekafò

• Ikenga – Voice of the world

• Sunugal

For more information, check the websites below for a list of organisations active in the field of Migration & Development:

• https://diaspora-engagement .eu/organisations

• http://www .integrazionemigranti .gov .it/Areetematiche/PaesiComuni- tari-e-associazioniMigranti/Pagine/mappatura-associazioni .aspx

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8. Free legal aid

The Italian Constitution (art. 24) guarantees the right to judicial protection as a fundamental right of every individual who must be able to act in court and be assisted in the trial by an expert in the general framework that respects the principle of “fair trial” .

In order to make this right effective, it is assured to everyone the means to act and defend themselves before any jurisdiction, also to persons who do not have the necessary economic resources .

As an asylum seeker hosted in a first or secondary reception centres, you have the right to receive free legal aid by legal advisors or lawyers, employed in those centres or financed by NGOs or specialised assisting bodies.

Here below, some useful contacts of different organisations providing a range of services such as social and legal counselling:

• Programma Integra (Migration, Asylum and Social Integration Centre):

http://www .programmaintegra .it socio-legale@programmaintegra .it

• Advocates Abroad:

AdvocatesAbroad .org cases@advocatesabroad .org

• Asylum in Europe:

http://www .asiloineuropa .it asiloineuropa@gmail .com

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FREE LEGAL AID

• Association for Juridical Studies on Immigration (ASGI):

www .asgi .it segreteria@asgi .it

• Lawyers for Free:

www .avvocatiperniente .it info@avvocatiperniente .it

• Borderline Sicilia:

www .siciliamigranti .blogspot .it borderline-sicilia@libero .it

• CLEDU:

www .unipa .it/dipartimenti/di .gi ./clinica-legale-per-i-diritti-umani cledu@unipa .it

For further information on these and more topics, visit the project’s website:

https://stire .org/italy/education

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PATRIR (Romania)

Development Perspectives - DP (Ireland)

CPS – Center for Peace Studies (Croatia)

Rehabilitation centre for stress and trauma - RCT (Croatia)

Slovene Philanthropy – SP (Slovenia)

CESIE (Italy)

Download STIRE – Guida per l’orientamento- EN

Community Orientation

Guidebook

ITALY

Contents

Community Orientation

Guidebook

Italy

1. Housing

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2. Healthcare

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3. Social services and welfare

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4. Education

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5. Work

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6. Learning the language

7. Community engagement

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8. Free legal aid

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