Worker legalization program not successful in Veneto

An amnesty decree running until October 15 allowing employers to legally hire foreigners working in Italy has not received a strong response, especially in the region of Veneto, labor union CGIL said on Tuesday. With less than one week left to go for applications to be filed, only 6,000 requests have been presented compared to an initial potential estimate of 50,000. Employers of illegal workers were given the chance to come clean and legalize anyone who had been continuously employed since at least December 31, 2011 by filing an application and paying 1,000 euros each plus six months' worth of salaries, welfare and taxes. According to the Leone Moressa Foundation an estimated 380,000 foreign workers need to be regularized, but employers may opt not to do so due to the prohibitive fees and excessive red tape. The window of time for legalizing workers that started September 15 will end on October 15.