In recent news, the Indian government has given its post-facto approval to a significant Migration and Mobility Agreement with Italy. This agreement, inked on November 2, aims to grant Indian students the opportunity to stay temporarily in Italy for up to one year after completing their studies, allowing them to gain valuable professional experience.

The pact, sealed between India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, focuses on fostering closer ties between the two nations. Its key objectives include facilitating interactions among people, promoting the movement of students, skilled laborers, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, and enhancing cooperation on issues concerning irregular migration.

Crucially, the agreement secures advantages for India within the existing labor mobility pathways outlined in the Flows Decree. This includes maintaining the current Italian visa system and creating avenues for post-study opportunities, internships, and professional training for Indian students.

Under this agreement, Indian students can avail themselves of an extended period of up to 12 months for permanent residence in Italy even after completing their academic or vocational training. This provision is specifically designed to assist them in gaining initial professional exposure within Italy.

Additionally, Italy has detailed specific provisions for professional training, extracurricular internships, and curricular internships tailored for Indian students, further enriching their educational and professional experiences in the European nation.

Italy has allocated quotas for non-seasonal and seasonal Indian workers for the years 2023, 2024, and 2025 under the Flows Decree, which regulates the number of visas for non-EU citizens entering Italy for various types of employment.

Moreover, this agreement is poised to formalize the employment of professionals in healthcare and medical services sectors from both India and Italy. It is also set to streamline the process of managing irregular migration of workers from India to Italy.

To oversee irregular migration within the agreed framework, a joint working group will be established, holding periodic meetings through virtual or physical modes to ensure effective implementation of the agreement.
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