Caserta: young Tunisians on construction sites thanks to the Thamm Plus project
Ance and Confindustria Caserta have joined the national project: the story of the company Termotetti and three immigrants it has taken on
Abdallah Nizar, Bouchira Issam and Amara Khaled arrived in Italia from Tunisia in April and are now working under proper contracts on the construction sites of Termotetti in Gioia Sannitica, in the province of Caserta. It has been a positive experience both for the three young foreign workers and for the company that hired them. “Something to be replicated,” comments Angelina Tedesco, CEO of Termotetti, “but also something to be refined.”
The Caserta initiative forms part of the Thamm Plus programme, promoted by ANCE Nazionale and Confindustria, which aims to provide solutions for businesses struggling to recruit staff in Italia. Welders, bricklayers, electricians: around 500 young Tunisians are involved, having completed an initial training programme in their home countries. Some of them then travelled to Italia, where they were placed with companies participating in the project, which were able to employ them on standard employment contracts. This project forms part of the Mattei Plan initiated by the Meloni Government.
The numbers are still limited, but in the face of labour shortages, employers’ organisations – often in collaboration with third-sector organisations or bodies – are promoting initiatives and projects aimed at non-European citizens. Confindustria and Ance Caserta have played a significant role in this regard. Indeed, even in ‘Terra di Lavoro’ – as the province of Caserta is known – businesses are struggling to find the workers they need.
“Given the shortage of people to fill certain jobs, particularly in the construction sector,” says Oreste Rizzo, director of ANCE Caserta, “we have turned to workers from outside Europe. We have offered support to businesses at every stage of the project, some of which were highly complex. Without the associations, the project would not have come to fruition.”
The story begins in January, when the young Tunisians are recruited. They are immediately required to undergo a period of training in their country of origin. On completion, they were able to sign a preliminary employment contract. And then they set off. On arrival in Italia, once they have been assigned to their respective destination cities, the procedures to grant them residence permits begin. “These procedures are not straightforward,” says the entrepreneur from Caserta, “but I must point out that there has been excellent teamwork with the trade organisations.”
