During President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s visit in Italy, she asked the Italian government for additional benefits for overseas Filipino working there, which includes the legalization of overstaying OFWs, automatic conversion of driver’s license and expanded social security benefits.

According to the President, the Italian President George Napolitano and Prime Minister Romano Prodi assured that OFWs who are overstaying in Italy can now legalize their stay under an amnesty law that took effect in 2002. 

“The amnesty that was declared in 2002 is actually still being implemented up to now. And there are so many (illegal aliens) who are applying for amnesty and for documentation,” the President said.

According to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) there are some 87,000 documented Filipinos in Italy and there are thousands more who are undocumented. This made Italy ranked to number eight among the 15 countries in the world with the heaviest concentration of undocumented OFWs.

Since most number of Filipinos in Italy are working as professional driver, President Arroyo proposed for automatic conversion of driver's license of Filipinos issued in the Philippines will be recognized by the Italian government when they migrated and will allow them to drive in Italy without taking any exam.

She also proposed for RP-Italy Social Security Agreement, this will serve as the extension of Social Security System benefits to Filipinos in Europe. And this will secure the stability of Filipino workers in Milan and other parts of Italy or Europe.  

“In other words, if you are a social security service member in the Philippines, the SSS payments could be reimbursed or credited in Italy,” said Press Secretary Ignacio Bunye who joined the President in her seven-day visit in Europe.

The OFWs are the fourth biggest group of expatriates in Italy in terms of population but they are the most preferred workers of Italian employers because of their work ethics, industry and competence.

She said that probably Italy has the best laws for foreign workers and they are also allowed to bring their families to Italy.

“There are so many Filipinos here. And they are well loved by their Italian employers, the President said.

She also notice that Filipinos can easily get along with Italians because of similarity with culture and tradition aside from both being Catholics.