ROME Iran's jobless should respond promptly to a call by Iran's friend Italy for manpower supplies. Italian officials, industrialists and firms have announced they need a young work force from abroad which, if unheeded by Iranians, could be up for grabs.
Statistics describe Italy with its 57.2 million population as an extremely "old state" growing like a pyramid.
By the end of 2000, 13.855 million Italians will be above 60 years old, up from 9.64 9 million in 1975. It is expected to hit 17.744 in 2025.
Twenty-five million of those above the said age will by then be retired or can no longer work.
All of the above bolsters Italy's need to infuse fresh manpower to its industrial sector from abroad. In its industrial district alone 200,000 foreigners are direly needed. If not met, the industrial units are bound to close.
Elsewhere, a recent survey showed that over 400,000 children between the ages of 11 and 14 work in coffee shops and construction sites, among other places, in Italy despite laws stating they should be in school.
It showed that 47 percent of the children are employed in coffee shops or restaurants, 15 percent in gas stations or as car park staff and 17 percent as hawkers.
Italy lies in proximity with North African and East European states and immigrants from East Asia, especially the Philippines, continuously flock to this country. Traditionally, it attracts a large part of its work force from these regions.
But, owing to friendly political and economic relations, Iran can meet 10 percent of Italy's needs in the stated case.
Above all, Italy has set preconditions for those willing to migrate to the country. It says that they must have specialty in a field or be capable of learning well and also follow legal ways to migrate.
Italy is sporadically battling with illegal immigrants flowing into the state.
On Monday Italian Customs vessels dashed to the assistance of a stranded ship carrying as many as 1,000 illegal immigrants off Italy's storm-battered southeastern coast.
Given current circumstances, the Iranian government is expected to respond to the green light Italy has signaled. It can help Iran grind a halt to its runaway unemployment which officially stand at 13 percent.
Last month, the press reported that Iran has created 40,000 jobs in the first six months of the Iranian year that started in March.
Some 750,000 jobs need to be created every year to stop the unemployment rate from increasing, said the newspaper.
A maximum of only 80,000 jobs can be created in the second half of the year which means that only 16 percent of job creation targets can be fulfilled.
(IRNA)