November 10, 2024
Double counting of practices, reuse of names in subsequent years, all to collect more public money. Added to this are incorrect procedures and non-compliant locations, which further aggravate the situation. An opaque system to say the least, that of patronage abroad. Bodies created to assist our compatriots in bureaucratic procedures (pension application, passport application, certificate of existence) but which show how their social purpose is often compromised by less than transparent procedures and, in some cases, by a real and distorted use of public funds. Not to mention some patronages that have become a profit machine. Massimo Giletti’s show, “The State of Things”, broadcast tomorrow at 9.20pm on Raitre, will shine the spotlight on this undergrowth. A detailed investigation, signed by the journalist Alessio Lasta, exposes a series of irregularities, with exclusive documents, which undermine the integrity of this system.
A premise is a must, to better understand: the patronages are private law, non-profit entities, recognized by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies and are managed by the unions. The financing of these bodies amounts, by law, to 0.199% of the social security contributions paid by Italians to INPS. In simple terms, we are talking about 486.6 million euros, exactly the amount allocated by the ministry for the current year. In essence, almost half a billion a year of public money. The calculation of funding for each patronage is simple: for each practice the organization receives a score. The more practices you do, the more scores you get and the more public money you receive. Giletti’s cameras collected testimonies from people who worked in the Inca CGIL patronages of New York, and incredible unpublished data from the inspections will tell of a system also denounced by a dossier filed with the Senate in 2016 and never taken into consideration by 4 Labor ministers (Giuliano Poletti, Luigi Di Maio, Nunzia Catalfo and Andrea Orlando), before the current Marina Elvira Calderone. The case of the Inca CGIL of New York is particularly critical. Exclusive documents highlighted unfair practices, such as demanding payments for free services, including $200 for a life certificate and $150 for passport appointments. Former employees confirmed the pressure they were subjected to to ask users for money, in contrast with the provisions of the agreements.
Furthermore, some speak of pension requests being resubmitted for the same person years later. The dossier of the Committee for the issues of Italians abroad, deposited in the Senate eight years ago, speaks of «placement reports, which report all the activities declared by the patronages and verified by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, highlight that only over the years and in the locations where there has been an inspection there has been a reduction, sometimes substantial, in the score”. And yes, because as the same 70-page document points out, “the inspection system provided for by current legislation appears inadequate… Interventions, probably, often announced to foreign offices”. For example, Argentina, a country with a large Italian community, was not inspected from 2012 to 2023. The United States saw an eight-year gap between inspections, the last one also done last year. If we then remember that there are around 480 patronages located in more than 20 countries, the inspection risks becoming a mirage. Inca CGIL, for example, has 99 offices in 26 different countries. «The absence of inspection controls – states Lasta, author of the Raitre investigation – would transform the patronage into a mere business machine, compromising assistance to citizens, especially the most fragile ones, such as Italians residing abroad».
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**Interview with Alessio Lasta, Investigative Journalist on “The State of Things”**
*Published on November 10, 2024*
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us, Alessio. Your upcoming segment on “The State of Things” addresses some concerning irregularities in the patronage system abroad. Can you summarize the key findings of your investigation?
**Alessio Lasta:** Absolutely. Our investigation uncovered a deeply flawed patronage system intended to assist Italians abroad. We found evidence of double counting of bureaucratic practices to inflate funding claims, the reuse of names in subsequent years, and even cases of improper procedures. These issues significantly compromise the integrity of a system that is supposed to serve our compatriots.
**Editor:** That sounds quite alarming. You mentioned that some patronages have turned into profit machines. Could you elaborate on this?
**Alessio Lasta:** Certainly. Our investigation revealed that some patronages, particularly the Inca CGIL in New York, have been charging fees for services that are legally supposed to be free. We documented instances where clients were asked for payments of $200 for life certificates and $150 for passport appointments. This behavior directly contradicts the intended purpose of these organizations, leading us to question how public funds are being used.
**Editor:** It’s shocking to hear that public money is potentially being mismanaged like this. How has the government responded to previous warnings about these issues?
**Alessio Lasta:** Unfortunately, many of these discrepancies have been highlighted in reports going back several years, yet they remain largely unaddressed. A dossier submitted to the Senate in 2016 detailed these very problems, but successive Labor Ministers seem to have ignored the findings. Our segment aims to shine a light on this neglect and push for accountability.
**Editor:** You also mentioned exclusive documents that you obtained for this investigation. Can you share how these documents support your claims?
**Alessio Lasta:** Yes, the documents we collected provide a clear picture of the irregular practices at play. For instance, they detail how several patronages resubmit pension requests for the same individuals, manipulating their scoring system to claim more funds. These documents are crucial as they corroborate the testimonies from whistleblowers who experienced these practices firsthand.
**Editor:** It’s evident that this issue goes beyond individual cases. What do you hope viewers take away from your segment tomorrow night?
**Alessio Lasta:** I hope viewers come away with a deeper understanding of how the system they trust to assist them can be exploited. By presenting this investigation, we aim to foster a conversation about accountability and reform to ensure that public funds are used effectively and transparently for the benefit of Italians abroad.
**Editor:** Thank you, Alessio, for sharing your insights. We look forward to the segment airing tomorrow on Raitre.
**Alessio Lasta:** Thank you for having me. I hope it raises important discussions in our society.
