As part of the Upskilling for Operators of Social and Labour Services training, CGIL Roma e Lazio, a partner of AMIL, provided an in-depth analysis of the challenges and strategies for the socio-labour integration of people from third countries.
The AMIL Project Context and the MEIC Approach
This initiative is part of the AMIL – Alliance Multi-Stakeholders for Migrants Integration and Labour project, which aims to promote the sustainable integration of third-country nationals into the labour market. The project expands and strengthens the MEIC (Migrants Economic Integration Cluster) methodology, an innovative approach based on multi-stakeholder cooperation. This methodology allows migrants to actively participate in the integration process through tailored training and guidance programs, facilitating a more effective and lasting inclusion in both the labour market and the social fabric.
Prof. Francesco Carchedi focused on three essential aspects to better understand and address the challenges faced by migrants in the labour market:
- Definition of innovative approaches and best practices
- Placement of foreign nationals in the national and regional (Lazio) labour market
- Intervention strategies for the most vulnerable groups
Innovative approaches and best practices: a crucial definition
The session emphasised the importance of clearly defining what is meant by “innovative approaches” and “best practices.” Innovation should not be an end in itself but must be contextualized and tailored to the real needs of the territory and the people involved. A best practice is truly effective only if it meets emerging needs and adopts an intersectional, human rights-based approach, ensuring sustainable and replicable solutions across different contexts.
The situation of foreign nationals in the labour market
The analysis highlighted that third-country nationals often have access only to specific segments of the labour market, typically characterized by precarious, unstable, and informal working conditions. In both the national and regional (Lazio) contexts, migrants are frequently employed in labour-intensive sectors with limited contractual guarantees, often at risk of exploitation by illegal and criminal organisations.
Labour market demand and supply dynamics, as well as interactions with public and private services, play a crucial role in shaping their employment and integration pathways.
Intervention strategies for vulnerable groups
A key discussion point was how to effectively intervene in support of the most vulnerable groups, who often rely on the third sector, trade unions, and informal support networks.
Three fundamental indicators were identified:
- Territorial Context – Understanding the structural characteristics of intervention areas and analyzing the presence and needs of migrant communities.
- Labour Market Placement – Assessing the socio-economic and demographic conditions of migrant workers, their access to employment, and identifying illegal labour market entry mechanisms.
- Priority Needs – Identifying urgent needs that shape the socio-economic conditions of migrants. Often, these needs are multiple and interconnected, requiring prioritization of the most critical issue—the one that influences all others.
This approach enables targeted and sustainable interventions. Generally, the most disadvantaged migrants are those who have arrived within the past five years. Therefore, establishing a realistic priority scale for interventions is essential, applying an intersectional perspective guided by the principle:
Assess the need → Provide an appropriate response → Monitor changes → Adjust the response → Verify human rights fulfillment
Migrants in vulnerable situations initially tend to use low-threshold services, gradually transitioning to more structured services related to employment and social inclusion.
A gradual path towards integration
Integration—and stable territorial settlement—is a process that begins with addressing informal and illegal employment, including exploitation, abuse, violence, and systematic violations of labour rights.
The ultimate goal is to move from severe labour exploitation to formal employment through progressive, structured interventions.
Thus, innovative interventions and best practices can only be considered as such when they effectively initiate this complex process, taking into account the specific territorial context (place of residence).
Conclusions
The intervention by CGIL Roma e Lazio reaffirmed that innovative approaches and best practices should not be seen as rigid frameworks, but as dynamic tools capable of adapting to the evolving needs of territories and people.
The Upskilling for Operators of Social and Labour Services training represents a valuable opportunity to enhance the skills of social and labour service operators, fostering effective integration models based on in-depth contextual analysis and the development of concrete and sustainable inclusion pathways.
