ISLAMABAD: Italy has announced a new quota-based employment scheme that will allow 10,500 Pakistani workers to legally enter its labour market over the next three years.
In this regard, 3,500 Pakistani workers will be employed in Italy each year through a combination of seasonal and non-seasonal work schemes. Furthermore, 1,500 workers will be hired on a seasonal basis, while 2,000 will be placed in non-seasonal jobs.
In this sense, the allocation makes Italy the first European country to formally extend a quota-based labour arrangement to Pakistan.
Moreover, government officials believe the move could serve as a model for similar agreements with other European states facing labour shortages.
The development comes amid a sharp rise in outward migration from Pakistan. Nearly 2.9 million Pakistanis left the country over the past three years, driven by low wages, inflation, unemployment and rising education costs.
The Economic Survey 2024–25 reports that more than one million Pakistanis sought overseas employment in a single fiscal year, highlighting the growing reliance on foreign jobs and remittances.
In addition, the Italian quota offers a legal and structured pathway at a time when irregular migration has increased significantly.
So far, the Illegal migration to Europe rose by 280 percent in 2022, with many Pakistanis attempting dangerous routes through Libya, Egypt and other transit countries.
The Italian scheme is expected to channel workers into regulated employment while addressing labour shortages in key sectors. Punjab, Pakistan’s largest source of overseas labour, is expected to benefit most from the initiative.
Federal Minister for Overseas Pakistanis Chaudhry Salik Hussain described the agreement as a major milestone achieved through sustained diplomatic engagement with Italian authorities. He said overseas Pakistanis continued to play a vital role in supporting the national economy.
