For any job flying any helicopter requirements tend to vary depending on the companies need for pilots at the time and availability of such pilots.
In some countries it only takes money to become a pilot and get ratings, there are tons of pilots looking for jobs so companies can be picky about whom they choose to fly their aircraft, other countries or companies have to lower their requirements to hire pilots because there are not many suitable candidates. Ask about the pilots who have begun flying the Skycrane at Evergreen, nothing compared to the Ericksson requirements. It would be interesting to see who's flying the Italian ones.
In any case it's not only flight hours that will get you thru the door in most places, it what you have been doing in those flight hours, what would you rather hire to fight fires, a 1500 hours R22 CFI or a 500 hour all turbine, hot, high and heavy guy who's been working out in the field in some remote place?