Child carers need to stump up criminal-record certificate
Measure could be a burden for parents, says association
04 April, 20:05
(ANSA) - Rome, April 4 - Italian employers hiring people in
environments where minors are present must request a certificate
declaring they have not committed crimes that would make them
incompatible starting Monday, when a new law goes into effect.The law designed for protection in child care, requests employers to ask courts for criminal records with the employee's consent.
This could potentially be a burden to families, said Assidatcolf, an association of employers of domestic workers.
According to Assindatcolf, criminal records should be requested at the appropriate court subject to employee authorization. Employee authorization is necessary because records can only be requested by named person, explained Assindatcolf.
"This procedure greatly disrupts families so much more than for other work relationships that require criminal records certificates (especially in the public sector). It is the employee who must personally request it and then present it to the employer," affirmed Assidatcolf, adding, "moreover, while businesses and voluntary organizations have an organization they can count on for bureaucratic issues, it is fathers and mothers that find themselves further overloaded".
On Friday, Assidatcolf asked to postpone Monday's enforcement of the decree.
In a statement, the association said "while sharing the aims and good intentions contained in the legislative initiative, it must be noted that the introduction of an obligation for the employer to require the prospective employee's criminal record will lead to both a paralysis in hirings and promote under-the-table employment, heavily penalizing an industry that constitutes a fundamental support for Italian families".
Voluntary organizations which work with children have already been omitted, thanks to a circular letter released Thursday that excludes non-profits from penalties, which range from 10,000 to 15,000 euro.
