Alaska Airlines launches first-ever Seattle–Rome nonstop, opening new US–Italy business corridor
Italian and Slovenian unions denounce Schengen-border suspension, warn of damage to cross-border workers
Italy widens 7 % ‘pensioner flat-tax’ to towns of 30,000 residents, boosting relocation options
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Sydney consulate switches to appointment-only passport service, signaling wider digital shift
From 1 May Italy’s Sydney consulate will issue passports only to applicants who book through the Prenot@MI portal, eliminating walk-ins. Mobility teams should review passport-expiry dates for Italian staff in Australia, as emergency exceptions are limited and appointment slots may fill quickly.
Italy sets three-year immigration quotas: 497,550 extra non-EU workers cleared for 2026-2028
The Council of Ministers has endorsed a three-year Decreto Flussi that will allow 497,550 additional non-EU nationals to work in Italy between 2026 and 2028. The shift from annual to triennial quotas gives companies more certainty, especially in agriculture, tourism and construction, and hints at phasing out the notoriously chaotic click-day system. Employers should revisit head-count plans and book consular slots early to exploit the new allocations.
Italy opens 74 new ‘flat-tax towns’, widening 7 % regime for foreign retirees
Law 34/2026 has expanded Italy’s 7 % flat-tax regime for foreign pensioners to towns of up to 30,000 inhabitants, adding 74 mid-sized municipalities across Southern Italy and parts of the central seismic zone. The move offers better infrastructure and healthcare options, making the incentive more attractive to affluent retirees and corporate transferees planning post-assignment life in Italy.
New labour decree tackles ‘digital caporalato’, sets incentives for fair pay
Italy’s latest labour decree, approved on 28 April, cracks down on ‘digital caporalato’ by making on-line staffing platforms jointly liable for wage violations, while rewarding employers that apply fair-pay contracts with a temporary cut in social-security rates. The rules raise compliance stakes for multinational supply chains that use foreign temp agencies and gig-work apps.
1 May general strike confirmed—but transport largely exempt, easing travel fears
A 1 May nationwide strike has been confirmed, yet Transport-Ministry rules exclude commercial air and rail services during the holiday ‘black-out’ period, limiting the impact on business travellers. Local public transport, public offices and some services may still be affected, and further transport strikes are planned later in May.