Lombardy, Italy's richest region, is experiencing an unusual situation. Last Sunday, the mayor of Magnacavallo made an appeal during Sunday mass, asking for patience and collaboration in the face of the shortage of public employees.
“There is nothing strange in an administrator making an appeal to the community during mass, because in a small town, it is one of the few times when everyone gets together. Unity and mutual help are needed, because this is a problem for everyone, not just the municipal administration,” Arnaldo Marchetti told the newspaper. Journal of Mantua.
The crisis affects essential services, such as the anagrafe sector (civil registry) — much sought after by Italian-Brazilians for issuing Italian certificates.
“We are in a difficult situation at the moment. If things don’t change, it may become impossible to offer many services,” he added.
Recent public competitions have not attracted enough candidates. Administrative positions remain open, but low attractiveness and modest salaries discourage interested parties.
The problem goes beyond Magnacavallo. Neighboring municipalities such as Sermide and Felonica are also facing staff shortages. Two competitions in the nearby Destra Secchia region failed to fill their vacancies due to a lack of candidates.
The mayor stressed that there is no room for maneuver in relation to salaries or staff replacement.
The problem is widespread across the public administration. In recent years, retirements have emptied offices. And for small municipalities like Magnacavallo, the situation is particularly difficult.
“But we don’t want to give up,” the mayor concluded. “Our community is united and we will find a way to move forward. However, it will take patience, collaboration and a little bit of adaptability.”
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