Italian Restorers Launch #MessageInABottle Campaign for Professional Recognition

Italian restorers have launched the #MessageInABottle campaign on social media, demanding that Minister of Cultural Heritage Dario Franceschini finally recognize their professional qualification. The protest stems from over 13 years of inaction by the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, which has failed to implement Article 182 of the Cultural Heritage Code, enacted in 2009. This article establishes two pathways to qualification: a direct route for those with a five-year university degree, and an indirect route via a proficiency exam for experienced practitioners. The Ministry only began the process in 2015, with a deadline of June 30, 2015, but has since issued three extensions, the latest on July 13, 2017, pushing the deadline to December 2017. Lawyer Pietro Celli, representing 650 members of the association La Ragione del Restauro, highlights the delays. Lawyer Verri criticizes the Ministry for publishing a provisional ranking on July 21, 2016, that recognized only 800 out of over 6,000 applicants, causing discrimination and lack of transparency. The campaign is supported by unions CGIL, CISL, and UIL, which have sent a letter to Minister Franceschini requesting an urgent meeting. The letter states that the delays have left over 10,000 workers without formal qualification, exposing them to exploitation and low wages. The hashtags #MessageInABottle and #HelpRestauratori aim to raise public awareness.