On 5 November 2025 the CGIL trade-union federation in Campania held a press conference in Naples to expose what it calls a “systemic scam” surrounding Italy’s Decreto Flussi work-visa quotas. Union officials presented hundreds of case files from Bangladeshi nationals who entered Italy legally in 2023 with nulla osta work permits but were never given actual jobs or residence permits because the sponsoring companies disappeared.
According to regional CGIL secretary Elisa Laudiero, at least 400 workers paid intermediaries thousands of euro for job offers that proved fictitious. Many now live in the informal economy without status, feeding a shadow market the union says is “created by gaps in the click-day mechanism that rewards speed over substance”.
![CGIL Napoli alleges widespread fraud in 2025 visa ‘click-day’ system]()
The CGIL wants the government to introduce employer-bond requirements, deeper vetting of company histories before nulla osta are issued, and a public blacklist of firms that abandon sponsored migrants. It is also calling for criminal investigations into an earlier Naples court case that saw 21 people accept plea bargains over forged work contracts linked to the 2024 quota round.
For businesses, the scandal is a warning: authorities are likely to tighten compliance audits and could hold sponsoring firms liable for abandoned workers. Mobility teams should expect extra document checks and be prepared to defend the authenticity of job offers during upcoming quota rounds.
According to regional CGIL secretary Elisa Laudiero, at least 400 workers paid intermediaries thousands of euro for job offers that proved fictitious. Many now live in the informal economy without status, feeding a shadow market the union says is “created by gaps in the click-day mechanism that rewards speed over substance”.
The CGIL wants the government to introduce employer-bond requirements, deeper vetting of company histories before nulla osta are issued, and a public blacklist of firms that abandon sponsored migrants. It is also calling for criminal investigations into an earlier Naples court case that saw 21 people accept plea bargains over forged work contracts linked to the 2024 quota round.
For businesses, the scandal is a warning: authorities are likely to tighten compliance audits and could hold sponsoring firms liable for abandoned workers. Mobility teams should expect extra document checks and be prepared to defend the authenticity of job offers during upcoming quota rounds.
