Labor Pathways for Refugees are an experimental project developed as part of the opening of extra-quota entry pathways, pursuant to Law 50/2023. It is promoted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
ReadyForIT - Labor Pathways for Refugees is an initiative designed to facilitate the regular entry in Italy of young refugees residing in first-asylum countries after being forced to flee their homelands due to war, persecution, or human rights violations.
In first-asylum countries, refugees often lack genuine opportunities to rebuild a dignified life and are compelled to undertake long and dangerous journeys. The Work Corridors offer an alternative by providing the opportunity to enter Italy with a work visa, enabling safe and legal migration pathways.
This project aligns with the Global Compact on Refugees, emphasizing not only the critical role of the private sector and individual companies in integrating refugees into society but also the significant value of collaboration among Italian authorities, civil society, international organizations, and the private sector in delivering concrete solutions of solidarity and protection.
The ReadyForIT - Labor Pathways for Refugees project has been coinceived by Fondazione Italiana Accenture ETS (Accenture Italian Foundation) and is led by UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in partnership with the foundation itself, Diaconia Valdese CSD, Talent Beyond Boundaries, Pathways International, the International Trade Center (ITC - UN/WTO Technical Agency), and the Unione Industriali Torino. The project is supported by Reale Foundation and Fondazione Conad ETS, in collaboration with Develhope, Refactory Uganda, and Finn Church Aid.
The Labor Pathways for Refugees result from a deeply collaborative process involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, and the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
The primary focus of training in temporary asylum countries, as well as the subsequent job placement, is the Information Technology sector.
Young refugees are identified and selected in the host country, where they attend a pre-course before undergoing further selection. They are then prepared for interviews and introduced to companies that have chosen to participate in the program, with the aim of facilitating an initial match between candidates and employers.
Next comes a 10-week training program that includes 160 hours of IT training and 133 hours of civic-linguistic education (100 hours of Italian at A1 level, 25 hours of civic education and specific terminology) and Workplace Health and Safety training (8 hours). Of these, 60 hours are conducted in person, while the remaining are delivered remotely from Italy. Additionally, 12 hours of advanced IT coaching have been provided online by the local academy.
At the end of the training program, students take three in-person tests (technical, civic-linguistic, and workplace safety) assessing all the topics covered over the 10 weeks. Upon successful completion, they receive certifications and proceed to the next phase, which includes initiating the visa application process needed to come to Italy and formalizing a work contract of at least 12 months agreed upon with the companies.
Upon arrival in Italy, young refugees receive initial support, including assistance in finding housing for the first three months, promoting social integration through community matching, and facilitating their workplace onboarding.
This Java IT course builds practical and professional skills for roles in software development:
• Version Control with Git: Proficiency in Git, branching strategies, and collaboration on GitHub.
• Java Programming Fundamentals: Solid understanding of arrays, loops, functions, and essential data types.
• Object-Oriented Programming (OOP): Hands-on experience designing robust systems using classes, encapsulation, collections, and inheritance.
• Advanced Java Skills: File handling, exception management, Java Streams, Maven, and debugging tools.
• API and Web Basics: Practical knowledge of HTTP protocols, API testing, and tools like Postman.
• Italian Language Courses at A1 Level: Core communication functions, vocabulary, structures, and cultural elements of Italy.
• Civic-Linguistic Education: Key principles of the Italian Constitution, main public institutions in Italy, aspects of civil life (healthcare, education, employment, and taxes), rights and duties of foreigners in Italy, and employment contracts
• Specialized Terminology: Verbs, vocabulary, and structures relevant for communication in the IT sector in Italy
• Workplace Safety Training: Health and safety regulations in the workplace.
Twenty-two young refugees with IT backgrounds, originally from Burundi, Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan and currently residing in Uganda, successfully completed the ReadyForIT program at the end of October 2024. During the program, they gained or enhanced their Java programming skills and achieved basic knowledge of the Italian language and culture.
In the coming weeks, they will arrive in Italy thanks to employment contracts in the Information Technology sector already confirmed by the seven companies that pre-selected them and chose to participate in this innovative, high-impact project.