Here is Bergoglio's response to the Fai Cisl, which has turned to him for the workers in the fruit fields and now also at risk from the coronavirus.
"The need to confront those who, deprived of dignity, have seen the achievements of a non-realized integration more acutely, and are now more exposed to the dangers of the pandemic, is certainly understandable. It is therefore auspicious that their situations come out of the shadows and are regolarized, so that every worker's rights and duties are recognized, illegalities are challenged and the spread of conflicts between disgruntled people is prevented".
It is a passage from the reply to the Secretary General of the Fai Cisl, Onofrio Rota, from the State Secretariat on behalf of Sommo Pontefice. Il sindacato agroalimentare aveva scritto nei giorni scorsi a Francesco chiedendo conforto e incoraggiamento per i lavoratori della filiera agroalimentare e per sottoporre il tema della regolarizzazione dei braccianti irregolari come priorità. "The heat on our tavoles has always continued to come, and partly through the work of these people; Today this contradiction risks spreading in all its enormous scope, especially in the face of the health emergency, which risks creating new wars between people and represents a real threat for everyone, even more so for foreign workers", says the union's letter to the Pope.
"On behalf of the Holy Father," reads the reply, signed by the Secretary of State, Edgar Peña Parra, "I would like to mention His closeness to the many workers who, within the agri-food sector, are working hard, through many risks and difficulties, to provide the necessary foodstuffs to the community. The Pope mentions in his speech the painful situation of farmers from various countries, who find themselves relegated to the margins of society and face unacceptable conditions of hardship".
Per il segretario generale della Fai Cisl Onofrio Rota, "la regolarizzazione è una parte importante delle nostre battaglie perché aiuta a contrastare lo sfruttamento, l'illegalità e a fare emergere tanta economia sommersa". Commenting on Francesco's reply, Rota added: "In any case, our proposal will take place at some point in the future, just before Portogallo does and just before the current government recognizes the need. Fummo inascoltati. We didn't do it for the sake of money, but for the sake of solidarity, legality and the dignity of work. Regardless of the various governments that have succeeded, we have fought a battle of civility".
Then came the Coronovirus pandemic: "In the face of the health emergency - continues Rota - we felt the need to write to the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and to Pope Francis, because a short social circuit has been broken, which combines the risk of contagion, especially in the ghettos, with the lack of manpower, which is to the detriment of the locals. It's certainly a beautiful sign that Francesco is here, having him at our side at this time is a strong message for everyone, Italians and non-Italians alike."
The trade unionist also tackles the voucher issue. "In agriculture, it only serves to leapfrog protections for welfare, illness and maternity. With the extension of 2018, there were 50 million job vacancies, but no one has ever seen them. It's a tool that can be used by students, the unemployed and pensioners. However, it can also be used by workers who are unemployed or who have lost their citizenship. Dobbiamo chiederci se sia giusto in nome dell'emergenza sanitaria andare oltre questi limiti. La risposta è no, almeno che non si voglia precarizzare ancora di più un lavoro che, essendo per sua natura stagionale, ha sempre avuto una contrattazione garantante della massima flessibilità, persino del lavoro a chiamata giornaliera. And unless you want to return to the many abuses of the past, when the voucher produced opportunities for zero work and fruitlessness".