Work conditions in Italy

The Active Population in Figures

Working Conditions

Legal Weekly Duration

40 hours

Retirement Age

65, with a minimum of 25 years' contribution

Working Contracts

Labour contracts are governed by legal provisions and, to a lesser extent, by collective agreements. Conditions of hiring and dismissal are quite strict.

There are open-ended contracts, fixed term contracts or contracts for specific tasks/occasional services.

Labour Laws

Doing Business: Italy, to obtain a summary of labour regulations that apply to local entreprises

Cost of Labour

Minimum Wage

There is not a statutory minimum wage. Yet most Italian workers (nearly 80%) are actually covered by a minimum wage agreement, established through sectoral collective bargaining.

Average Wage

Average annual wage: USD 37,769 (source: OECD, 2020 - latest available data).

Social Contributions

Social Security Contributions Paid By Employers: Generally speaking, contributions are subject to variations depending on the professional branch, the risks, the number of employees and their professional qualifications. Employer’s charge is around 30%. Around 33% of the total rate is paid into the National Pension Fund, and the remainder is paid to the unemployment, sickness, maternity, social mobility and other funds (PwC).
Social Security Contributions Paid By Employees: Employees’s charge is around 10% and destinated for disability, old age and surviving spouses. Self-employed individuals are taxed at 25.98%. Additional voluntary and variable contributions are also allowed (PwC).

Social Partners

Employer Associations

CONFINDUSTRIA - General Confederation of Italian Industries
CONFAPI - Italian Confederation of SMEs

Labour Unions

Unione Italiana del Lavoro (UIL)
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro (CGIL)
Confederazione Italiana Sindacati dei Lavoratori (CISL)

Unionisation Rate

Between 70 and 79%

Labour Regulation Bodies