Italy holds a referendum on the rules of citizenship Workers’ rights news

The Italians vote in the referendums to reduce the rules of nationality and enhance work protection, amid fears that the low participation rate may be considered inaccurate.

The vote began on Sunday and will continue until Monday.

The issue of citizenship is asked on the Italian voting paper whether they reduce the period of residence required to apply for Italian citizenship by naturalization to five years.

Residents from the country of the non -European Union, without marriage or blood relations with Italy, must currently live in the country for 10 years before they can apply for citizenship, a process that can take years.

Supporters say reform can affect about 2.5 million foreign citizens living in the country and bring the law of citizenship in Italy in line with many other European countries, including Germany and France.

The measures were proposed by the main union parties in Italy and the left opposition parties.

Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said that it will appear in the polls, but it does not collide with the polling. The left has criticized this measure as anti -democracy, because it will not help in reaching the necessary turnout of 50 percent in addition to one of the qualified voters to make the vote valid.

Meloni, who gave his extremist right -wing brothers in the Italy Party a priority to cut off immigration even with the increase in the number of work visas to migrants, has given them strongly.

She said on Thursday that the current system “is an excellent law, among the most open, meaning that for years we were among the European countries that give the largest number of citizens every year.”

More than 213,500 people obtained Italian citizenship in 2023, doubled the number in 2020 and five European Union, according to statistics.

More than 90 percent were outside the European Union, most of them from Albania and Morocco, as well as Argentina and Brazil – two countries with large Italian migratory societies.

Even if the proposed reform is approved, this will not affect the Immigration Law, which many are considered to be the most unjust – that children born in Italy for foreign parents cannot seek citizenship until they reach 18 years.

Italian singer Ghali, who was born in Milan, urged the Tunisian fathers, and was an explicit defender to change the law of children, his fans to support the proposal as a step in the right direction.

Ghali said on Instagram: “I was born here, I used to live here always, but I only received citizenship at the age of 18,” said Ghali on Instagram. “With” Yes “we ask to be five years of life here, not 10, part of this country.”

Michelle Nagunmo, a cultural entrepreneur, also urged diversity in the fashion industry, to vote “yes”.

“This referendum revolves around dignity and the right to belonging, which is essential for many people who were born here and spent most of their adult lives in Italian society,” said Nagunmo, who lived most of her life in Italy.

“You are good enough to work and pay taxes, but it is not fully recognized as Italian. This becomes an obstacle for young generations, especially in the creative field, which creates frustration, exclusion and a great waste of capabilities,” she told the Associated Press.

The other four measures deal with the poll with the Labor Law, including better protection against separation payments, converting fixed contracts into permanent contracts and responsibility in accidents in the workplace.

Opinion polls published in mid -May showed that only 46 percent of the Italians were aware of the problems that lead the referendums. The demand for turnout was weaker, at about 35 percent of more than 51 million voters, much lower than the required legal quorum.

Several 78 referendums that have been held in Italy have failed in the past due to the low turnout.

The polling stations were opened on Sunday at 7 am local time (05:00 GMT), with results expected after opinion polls were closed on Monday at 3 pm (13:00 GMT).