ISLAMABAD: Italy has identified 10,500 Pakistani workers in its labor market, which is a significant step forward for bilateral labor cooperation and has opened up new legal and organized employment opportunities in Europe.
According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Pakistan has been granted a three-year employment quota by the Italian government. Under this arrangement, 3,500 Pakistani workers will be employed on both seasonal and non-seasonal contracts each year. There will be a fair mix of temporary and more permanent work according to the quota of 1,500 seasonal jobs and 2,000 non-seasonal positions.
The Italian government has given Pakistan a three-year job quota, according to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development. 3,500 Pakistani laborers will be hired annually on both seasonal and non-seasonal contracts under this arrangement. According to the quota of 1,500 seasonal jobs and 2,000 non-seasonal opportunities, there will be a reasonable mix of temporary and more permanent work.
Pakistani workers involved in the initiative will have a chance to take on roles in key sectors of the Italian economy, including shipbreaking, hospitality, healthcare, and agriculture. The program can accept both skilled and semi-skilled workers, ensuring broader participation and enhanced earning prospects in the foreign nation.
The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to facilitating dignified and legal overseas employment, emphasizing that overseas Pakistanis represent not only a crucial source of remittances but also the nation’s identity. He expressed his hope that other European nations would follow Italy’s lead by offering the same job opportunities to Pakistani workers.
Sources also suggested that job openings will be quite varied in professions such as welders, technicians, chefs, waitstaff, housekeeping staff, nurses, medical technicians, and agricultural laborers, along with Italy’s demand across different sectors.
It is important to acknowledge that Italy has become the first European country to officially establish a designated employment quota for Pakistan, a step seen as a major milestone in Pakistan-Europe labor relations.
Simultaneously, the authorities revealed that the second meeting of the Pakistan-Italy Joint Working Group will take place in Islamabad in February 2026, where both sides will talk about ways to further enhance collaboration, streamline hiring processes, and boost job opportunities in the near term.
