ROME, Italy -- The demand for Filipino domestic workers and caregivers is still huge in Italy at least for the next 10 years. However, the Philippine Embassy in Rome said that prospective applicants should go through the legal process and obtain a valid work permit.

On Tuesday, September 1, the new Italian law will be implemented which aimed at regularizing and giving amnesty to all illegal migrants working as domestic workers and caregivers.

Interested applicants for Italy should go through the direct hire process or what they call Flussi.

The Philippine Embassy in Rome is now saddled with increased applications for travel documents which is a major requirement to earn a legal status.

Post offices in Italy have also started receiving payments of registration fees from employers.

The registration fee for each applicant under the regularization law is 500 euros or P34,000.

Consul General Danilo Ibayan explained that the law is good for Italian employers because they can engage in other line of businesses and leave the household chores to their domestic worker.

He said the regularization law will benefit at least 20,000 Filipino domestic workers and caregivers in Italy, although some sectors say the figure could be more.

as of 08/26/2009 12:47 PM