Italy's Ministry of Labour and Social Policies announced the nomination of a new commissioner tasked with promoting the integration of migrant workers living in informal settlements in Italy. The nomination was established by Decree n. 19/2024, which aims to ensure the correct implementation of EU funds under the national recovery and resilience plan.

Migrant workers in informal settlements in Italy are mostly third-country nationals (TCNs) who are employed in the agricultural sector and often experience labour exploitation and degrading living conditions. The appointment of the commissioner should lead to a more coordinated, effective approach to the dismantlement of these settlements, and ensure acces to housing support and integration pathways for exploited workers.

A report on the housing conditions of migrants working in the agro-food sector, published in 2022 by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the National Association of Italian Municipalities, found that least 10 000 foreign agricultural workers live in informal settlements in Italy. Municipalities have reported 150 informal or spontaneous unauthorised settlements, varying in terms of type of accommodation (occupied cottages and buildings; shacks; tents; caravans) and size, ranging from a few units in micro-settlements to thousands of people in so-called 'ghettos'. According to the report these workers usually already have legal status in the country, based on labour or humanitarian work permits, or are asylum seekers.