sponsored with funds of the European Union
Italy (IT)
Employment
In Italy 68,000 full-time employees are working in agriculture and forestry, thereof about 10-15,000 in forestry. 600,000 workers are working only part of the year (between 150 and 180 days per year). That entitles them to welfare benefits. About 85-90,000 of these 600,000 are working in forestry.
Another 250,000 persons work only about 10-20 days in forestry.
125,000 persons are non-Italians, with Poles, Romanians and Albanians accounting for 14 and 11 %, respectively, thus forming the largest groups.
International Comparison of Employment
Wages and Labour Costs
In Italian agriculture there has been a new structure of collective agreements since 1995. There are 8 national agreements for certain industries, (e. g. horticulture), 15 regional agreements and 100 agreements at the province level. The trade unions (FLAI-CGIL, FAI-CISL, UILA-UIL) jointly negotiate with the employers' associations. The basic content and minimum standards are established at the national level (national labour collective agreement - CCNL). At the province level better arrangements are possible. In a number of companies there are also company agreements. If several trade unions are represented in a company the unions have to agree on their demands and agreements.
The national collective agreement makes a distinction between three groups (normal, qualified, and specialised employees). Agreements at the province level may go into further detail about this.
The average wage is € 7.34 per hour.
Employee's contribution
- - pension insurance: 8.54 %
Employer's contribution
- - pension insurance: 26.2 %
- - health insurance: 0.683 %
- - accident insurance: 13.24 %
- - unemployment insurance: 2.41 %
- - integration fund 1.50 %
- - guarantee fund: 0.20 %
- Total: 43.23 %
In disadvantaged areas the employers can get wage subsidies. They get a refund of 32 % of the wage. Income tax: a percentage depending on the wage level, approx. 27 %.
The collective agreements are kept by 100 % of the companies.
International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs
Working Time
A week has 39 working hours, a month 26 working days.
Province agreements may lay down a maximum of 44 hours per week for a maximum of 90 days per year. The extra time must be compensated in the course of the year.
According to the national agreement a 25 % bonus is paid for overtime (29 % in horticulture). On Sundays and public holidays and for work at night a 40 % bonus is paid in agriculture and horticulture (flower production and greenhouse cultures). The night time bonus is 45 %. The maximum number of overtime hours must not exceed 200 hours per year. On public holidays another wage is paid in addition to the wage and to the holiday bonus.
International Comparison of Working Time
Leave and Paid Holidays
Holidays: 26 working days, 13 public holidays.
A 13th and 14th monthly wage are paid in June and December.
International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays
Social Insurance
There is a state welfare insurance system called INPS, the national institute of welfare insurance.
The employer must set aside one monthly wage per year as severance payment for the worker. This provision is currently being changed. Funds will be set up that are financed by both sides. Then workers can decide whether their contribution (one monthly wage) should be paid into the fund. That money, plus one additional per cent from the employer and the accruing interest, are then the capital for an additional pension for the worker.
Occupational Health and Safety
There is a state accident insurance for all industries (INAIL - national insurance institute for work accidents). According to the statistics the number of work accidents is declining. In 2005 there were 66,220 work accidents and 136 deaths caused by agricultural work. Accidents are more frequent with migrant workers.
The trade unions are involved in the companies' health and safety at work systems through the health and safety at work committees (RLS). Every union sends one representative.
International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
The trade unions exert influence through their company representatives. If one union is represented in a company there is one RSA (Trade Union Representative). If there are several unions in one company they form a Trade Union Representation (RSU).
The degree of unionisation is 50 % (in forestry 100 %), the trade union reach is 100 %.
International Comparison of Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
There is no statutory minimum wage. The national collective agreement is de facto legally binding. Under § 36 of the Constitution the wage must be sufficient to allow the employee to lead a life with human dignity. The national collective agreement is used as a basis for construing this rule.
International Comparison of Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation
In the companies the trade unions are represented by the in-company trade union representatives (similar to company-specific unions). In the welfare system the unions are represented in committees (Orientation and Oversight Committee). In the supervisory board of the accident insurance INAIL the chairperson is a trade union representative. In bilateral committees the trade unions influence the vocational training system. Since December, 2006, there has been a statutory fund for further education (ForAgri), which employers finance by paying 0.3 % of the wage into the fund. Another fund for vocational training in agriculture has existed for 6-7 years (AgriForm).
International Comparison of Trade Union Participation
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