Italy is increasing its payments to migrant reception facilities. After former interior minister Matteo Salvini had slashed their funding, many local authorities had struggled to find companies willing to run migrant centers.
Italy will raise the per-migrant reimbursements given to reception facilities. This decision was announced on Wednesday by the interior ministry.
In Mid-2018, former interior minister Matteo Salvini significantly cut the amount of money reception facilities receive: From €35 to €19-26 per migrant per day (depending on the size of the facility the migrant lived in). The former minister had said that up to a billion and a half euros would be saved due to the cuts.
More money per migrant
Now, the interior ministry has introduced new payment rules. There won't be a return to €35 euros per migrant per day. But if local prefects do not receive any bids for migrant reception services, they can pay more than €19-26 per person.
Moreover, if a migrant reception facility offers complimentary healthcare services, the government will be able to reimburse them separately, in addition to the per-migrant, per-day amount. Reception facilities can also receive more money if there is a need to increase security services in centers after damages.
Complaints from local officials
Current interior minister Luciana Lamorgese had received complaints from local governments across the country. They were finding it difficult to place asylum seekers in accommodation -- many bidding processes for hosting services failed to produce a single bidder. The state resources allocated were seen as too little for the services required.