Ukrainians Migration to Italy by Cristina Montefusco IOM Italy ESF SCSS Exploratory Workshop:

1. Ukrainians Migration to Italy by Cristina Montefusco IOM Italy ESF SCSS Exploratory Workshop: Where Migration Policies meet the Migrants: comparing European and North American experiences Athens, 2-3 October 2008 International Organization for Migration

2. SUMMARY • Main features of Ukrainians in Italy • Case study and methodology • Nodal points • Migrant typology • Conclusions and future perspectives International Organization for Migration

3. 1.Main features of the Ukrainians in Italy: It started in the mid 1990s and since the end of 1999 beginning of 2000 it has progressively and heavily increased; Following the 2002 regularization provision, Ukrainians jumped from 27° place to the 4° place of the largest immigrant communities in Italy; At the end of 2006, they are 195.000 and constitute the 3° non-EU immigrant community in Italy; It subsequently became one of the most important communities in Italy, both on quantitative and qualitative terms. International Organization for Migration

4. No reliable statistics are available to estimate the number of undocumented Ukrainians (both overstayers and those who crossed illegally the borders) though some studies indicate a very high number i.e. 400.000-500.000 persons!; Their irregular status usually lasts for 2-4 years; It is a gender-characterized migration, as 84,6% are women, between 36 and 45 years-old, high-skilled (36,5%) or educated (36,5% have a University degree) who come mainly from Western Ukraine (historically more connected to Western Europe); They occupy the domestic work and care assistance’s labour sectors; There is a new trend of younger women, with an average age of 20 years-old, a lower education level and often lacking work experience in their country; International Organization for Migration

5. Ukrainian immigration to Italy is located in the context of the ‘feminization of immigration’: • Growing emigration of women from all over the world looking for economic independence, mainly working in the domestic and care sector; • Often assuming an invisible social role in destination societies; • Respond to the need of assistance of rich Western Societies whose native women are increasingly assuming roles outside the house. Additionally, in Ukraine: • Culture of equality between men and women; • Negative consequence: increasing family distress especially of children left behind - phenomenon of ‘social orphans’; • The risk of ‘care drain’ which could have a negative impact, on a long-term run, in the country. International Organization for Migration

6. 2. Case study and methodology Ukrainiansinterviewed by the researcher were 3 and reflected the characteristics above described i.e. women, age, education, left behind a family with children, regional origin. Policy makers interviewed were 2: • at the national level, the assistant of the Director General for migration issues at the Ministry of Labour in charge of the management of international affairs and integration policies • at the local level, the assistant in charge of the second level’s interventions in the area of migration and asylum of the local Councilor (Municipality of Rome) competent on welfare issues. Also, this pilot study produced results which corroborate the findings of previous works. International Organization for Migration

7. 3. Nodal points General consideration: • It is the (Italian) welfare policy which more affects the Ukrainian migratory project to Italy as the latter responds to a ‘need of assistance’ of the population (esp. families) which is not covered by the public system. • Weak law enforcement policy and capacity to manage migration which facilitate Ukrainians – and migrants in general - to ‘ignore’ policies. • Italian immigration policy as a whole seems to be not considered as a relevant factor when deciding to migrate: migration paths and work opportunities are known by word of mouth. Constant reference is made to friends’ connections and persons living next door. International Organization for Migration

8. The role of information and professional networks: • Perception and information about Italy and its civil society: They “have heard” that “for women it is easier to find a job than for men” • Humanity of Italians: “To work as a care worker I did not think in going back to Germany. I came to Italy. Germans are tough. On the contrary I have heard that Italians were kind, better” • Italian language is easier to learn than others • Italian history and culture plays a role • Ukrainian friends in Italy help in organizing their initial accommodation and (irregular) employment. ‘Friends’ are sometimes smugglers. International Organization for Migration

9. Ignored nodal points: VISA • Misuse of tourism visa: they enter the country with a regular tourism visa and overstay until there is a possibility to regularise their position. • In the last few years, Italy applied a more rigid visa policy which is also ignored by entering illegally into the country. (Also to be considered the impact of the Readmission and Visa Facilitation Agreement between Ukraine and EU entered in force this year). Border and internal control • Strategies are developed to overcome border control mechanisms; • Internal controls are perceived as “softer than in our country”. • They also say that “if you work honestly there are no special problems”. International Organization for Migration

10. Integration Referring to the specific sector of domestic work and care assistance , Ukrainians (and other Eastern EU immigrants) mainly enter irregularly in the labour market. The quota system does not reflect the real needs, it is slow and bureaucratic. After years of irregular status they get to interact with the system. Informants reported no discriminatory attitudes and behaviours; On the access to public services and interaction with the local context, the feedback was positive; However, studies report cases of significant distress and malaise due to the type of work (constant contact with death and pain) and the their exploitation linked to their illegal status in the country. Beauty of Ukrainians is a facilitator factor in relation to their acceptance by public authorities, families and the population in general. At the local level (Rome), no special policies has been developed for Ukrainians - as well as for other foreign communities. International Organization for Migration

11. Relevance of the local and regional context Trend to go first to Campania and the south of Italy in general and then move to the north of the country (higher work opportunities and higher salaries). The first regions of Italy hosting Ukrainians reflect, in a way, this trend: 1. Campania; 2. Lombardia; 3. Emilia-Romagna; 4. Lazio. Presumed reasons: softer enforcement policy; tolerant society; historical links between the port-cities of Naples and Odessa. International Organization for Migration

12. 4. Migrant tipology Due to the recent origin of Ukrainian migratory project to Italy, it is too early to assess if return will really characterize Ukrainian. It could be anticipated, though, that due to the average high age of these migrants, they will be strongly motivated to return due to the strong links to the country of origin. Differently, the new generation of Ukrainian coming to Italy will probably be more likely to stay and settle. International Organization for Migration

13. 5. Conclusions and future perspetives Nodal points: It seems that the nodal points are mainly ignored by Ukrainians and that the welfare policy along with the Italian social transformation are the major causes which impact on their decision to migrate to Italy. EU policies will more and more affect immigration policies in the future, e.g.: A readmission and visa facilitation agreement between Ukraine and the European Union entered into force in 2008: facilitated visa issuing (fees reduced) in change of readmission (i.e. acceptance and repatriation of illegal residents): the agreement is giving positive results. The number of visas issued tripled compared to 2007. A presidential summit was held last September between the EU and UKR which confirmed the will to finalise an association agreement. Will this have an impact on Ukrainian migration to the EU ? International Organization for Migration

14. CAPACITY BUILDING ACTION TOWARDS UKRAINIAN LOCAL INSTITUTIONS FOR THE EMPOWERMENT OF MIGRATORY AND SOCIAL-EDUCATIONAL POLICIES ON BEHALF OF CHILDREN, WOMEN AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES. An IOM project funded by Italian MFA which envisages, as a preliminary activity, a deep analysis of the Ukrainian migratory project to Italy. Special attention will be paid on: • The main characteristics of familiar disgregation and social orphans’ phenomenon • Mapping of relevant institutions/services, their functions and competencies • Qualitative and quantitative data and information on the Ukrainian migratory flow to Italy • Gap and need analysis of relevant central and local institution, • On the basis of the above, elaboration of an action plan addressed to institutions in order to develop a strategy for the reduction of social distress and the phenomenon of abandoned minors and irregular migration. • It is a decentralised cooperation project which envisages the participation of Italian and Ukrainian Regions. • The project should start in November. International Organization for Migration

15. Thank you ! References • Amadei, N. (2005), Con voce di donna. Migranti dell’Est, straniere di casa, Provincia di Parma – Assessorato alle Pari Opportunità, 2005. • Dal Lago, A. (1999) Non-persone – L’esclusione dei migranti in una società globale, Feltrinelli, Milano. • Decimo, F. & Sciortino, G. (2006) Stranieri in Italia: Reti migranti, Il Mulino: Istituto Cattaneo. • Ehrenreich, B. & Hochschild, A.R. (2002) Donne globali. Tate, colf e bandanti, Feltrinelli. • European Migration Network (EMN), (2004) The Impact of Immigration on Italy’s Society, Italian National Contact Point: Centro Studi e Ricerche IDOS. • Golini, A.(2006) L’immigrazione straniera: indicatori e misure di integrazione, Il Mulino. • IDOS, (2004)Dossier Statistico Immigrazione 2005, Caritas/Migrantes, Nuova Anterem • -------. (2006)Dossier Statistico Immigrazione 2005, Caritas/Migrantes, Nuova Anterem • -------. (2007)Dossier Statistico Immigrazione 2005, Caritas/Migrantes, Nuova Anterem • Losi N. (2006) Lives Elsewhere-Migration and Psychic Malaise, The international Series of Psychosocial Perspectives on Trauma, Displaced People, and Political Violence, Part I, London: Karnac, Renos K. Papadopoulos (eds). • Pastore, F. (2004) Italy’s migration contradiction, 2004. Retrieved May 22, 2006 from http://www.opendemocracy.net/people-migrationeurope/article_1744.jsp • Tagliabue, F. (2006, March) Ente locale e cooperazione sociale di fronte al fenomeno “badanti”. Qualificare Newsletter sul Lavoro Privato di Cura. Retrieved from http://www.qualificare.info/index.php?id=53 • Ucraina: analisi di un'immigrazione quasi tutta al femminile. Retrieved June 6, 2006, from http://www.redattoresociale.it/ • United Nations, World Survey on the Role of Women in Development, 2004, Retrieved June 6, 2006, from http://www.unitednations.org International Organization for Migration