Salute e sicurezza dei lavoratori migranti in Italia

Legal migrants count for more then 5% of the whole Italian population. Work is the main purpose for coming in Italy for the 64,5% of them. According to the Caritas Report, for year 2005, illegal workers have been estimated around 500,000, that is 14 % of the total migrant population. Migrants are mainly employed in services to the families and the elderly (59.5% of the total workers); constructions; hotels and restaurants; some industry sectors such as textile and tanning; agriculture; unskilled service jobs (eg cleanings). Their health status is difficult to know due, in part to their high mobility level, in part to the illegal status of some of them. Critical areas have been identified in injuries and infectious diseases. With regard to injuries, occupational accidents among immigrants are becoming more and more numerous, despite an overall reduction at national level. Romanians, Moroccans and Albanians are often involved. Tetanus, Hepatitis B, Tuberculosis and HIV have been identified as major issues among infectious diseases, with a possible gap in immunization compared to Italian population. The status of migrant worker hinders the access to health and efforts have to be undertaken in order to involve migrant workers in prevention programmes in occupational and public health.