Giving prisoners the chance to do real work while in prison, helping them to learn skills that will help them reintegrate into society. That is the aim of the memorandum of understanding signed today by the Head of the Department of Penitentiary Administration at the Italian Ministry of Justice, Francesco Basentini, and TIM's Chief Public Affairs Officer, Alessandro Picardi.
Specifically, the agreement will lead to jointly develop initiatives to offer inmates training and professional experience suitable in the labour market, as well as helping to resolve causes of social hardship. The agreement also aims to strengthen public-private cooperation to promote social development and progress.
As per the agreement, training activities will be set up for employees of the Ministry of Justice and prison inmates to promote learning and usage of digital technologies. TIM will provide access to all the initiatives involved in "Operazione Risorgimento Digitale", the telco’s project to promote digital inclusion throughout the country, hosting internet schools in 107 municipalities, with over 400 trainers providing training to a million citizens, SMEs and civil servants.
The first application of the agreement will give inmates at Milan Opera prison professional training and involve them in providing technical assistance on TIM's landline products, under an agreement between TIM and the company Service Trade.
In the initial phase, suitable candidates will be selected from among low-risk convicts serving short sentences who will attend courses for professional training on digital skills, in line with new technological trends and the demands of the labour market. After a period of "on-the-job" support, designed to make inmates completely independent in carrying out their activities, the actual technical assistance work will begin.
With this inclusive agreement the Italian Ministry of Justice and TIM bring forward a significant initiative to combine value creation and social responsibility, working towards a safer society and facilitating the full reintegration of citizens who have actively participated in social rehabilitation programmes while in prison.
Rome, 6 February 2020
