Italy - living and working conditions
1. How to find a job
You will need to register with a job centre in order to find work in Italy. Job seekers must go to the job centre in the area where they are living.
Look on the Ministry of Work and Social Security [Ministero del lavoro e della Previdenza Sociale] website to find the Centro per l’impiego [Job Centre] nearest to your home.
The EURES service within each job centre provides information on job opportunities within the European Economic Area.
Italy also has a system for matching job seekers and work providers known as the Borsa Continua Nazionale Lavoro [National Labour Exchange], where you can upload your CV to search for job opportunities.
You can also contact private job agencies. Seven hundred are currently authorised by the Ministry of Employment.
Many newspapers (dailies, weeklies and magazines) also publish regional and national classified job advertisements.
2. How to apply for a job
You can apply for a particular job or send in an application on spec. In the former case, the application procedures are generally detailed in the job offer or the advertisement. You may need to fax or email a CV with a covering letter stating your reasons for wanting the job to the contact numbers indicated. Sometimes your first contact may be by telephone, either directly with the company or the person responsible for recruitment (employment services, private agencies, staff recruitment companies etc.).
Your CV should be geared for the position for which you are applying, using the standard European format or Europass model. It should contain an authorisation for the processing of personal data pursuant to Legislative Decree 196/2003. It is not advisable to send in your CV without a covering letter that describes your strengths and the reasons why you believe you are the best candidate for the job. Unless specifically requested, you do not need to include a photo or any qualifications, references etc. (either originals or copies). If you are sending in a CV on spec., you could opt to send in a CV and covering letter or fill out the on-line application forms available on the websites of major companies (chains of supermarkets, hotels, ITC companies etc.). Look for “Lavora con noi” [work for us], “Offerte di lavoro” [job opportunities], “Candidature” [applications] etc. For some local businesses, it may be a good idea to turn up in person and leave your CV with the human resources or personnel manager.
3. Registration procedures and residence permits
Citizens of an EU Member State are free to enter the Italian Republic, subject to the provisos laid down in criminal law and laws to safeguard public order, internal security and public health in force in Italy. EU Citizens must hold an identification document that is valid at the time they enter State territory.
Since 11 April 2007, when Decree Law No 30/2007 transposing Community Directive N0 38/2004 into law entered into force, it has no longer been necessary to acquire a residence permit from the local police headquarters [Questura] for residence in excess of three months.
EU citizens are merely bound to observe all requirements imposed on Italian citizens for the exercise of certain activities.
Contacts: For further information visit the Polizia di Stato [State Police] website to look up the addresses of police headquarters throughout Italy
4. Working time
The normal working day is set at 40 hours per week, not necessarily calculated on the basis of a working week but for each seven day period. Collective contracts may agree a normal working period of less than 40 hours. Whether an agreement has been signed or not, the number of hours worked per week cannot exceed 48 hours including overtime. The 48 hour limit is calculated over a seven day period within a time period of no more than four months. This ensures the 48 hour limit is complied with by applying a kind of compensation rule whereby the limit may be exceeded over a working week provided the reference period includes working weeks of under 48 hours. A worker is entitled to a rest period of at least 24 consecutive hours every seven days. Entitlement to an annual holiday period of at least 4 weeks is recognised.
5. Incomes and taxation
Wages are specified in the agreement and must be paid at the employer’s work headquarters, i.e. the place of work, together with a detailed payslip showing the various items making up the wage and the tax and social security deductions required by law in Italy. The payment term is laid down in the collective contracts, which apply the principle that the wage is received after the work has been carried out. Part of the wage is the trattamento di fine rapporto [severance payment] (TFR) payable to the worker at the end of the subordinate working relationship.
Ordinary unemployment benefit: paid by INPS to people who have lost their jobs due to dismissal. Persons who have worked for Government bodies are excluded (State, Regione, Province, Municipalities, Public Hospitals etc.).
Requirements:The benefit is paid to workers who have been insured for at least two years against involuntary unemployment and who have been fired or dismissed for just cause. A worker must have accrued at least two years of insurance to claim for involuntary unemployment.
Benefit duration and amount: 7 months for workers with registered age under 50 and 10 months for workers with registered age greater than or equal to 50. Workers under 50: fixed at 50% for the first six months and 40% for the seventh month; workers aged 50 and over: set at 50% for the first six months, 40% for the next three months and 30% for the tenth month.
The benefit is payable monthly by INPS by means of a cheque and in any case within the limits of a gross monthly maximum that is set at EUR 830.77 for 2006, rising to EUR 998.50 for workers who can claim a gross monthly wage greater than EUR 1797.31.
Unemployment benefit with reduced requirements.
Requirements: the worker must have been employed for a total of at least 78 days with at least one weekly contribution before the two year period prior to application. The application is submitted to INPS from 1 January to 31 March on the year after the year for which the benefit is applied for. It is paid for a number of days equivalent to those effectively worked and for up to 156 days.
6. The social security system in this counrtry
Italian law requires people to be in employment before a welfare relationship may be established.
The employer is then obliged to pay contributions and deduct the amounts that must be paid in by the employer.
The INPS (Istituto Nazionale di Previdenza Sociale [National Social Security Institute]) is the national welfare institute responsible for social security and welfare benefits. Social security benefits are determined on the basis of compulsory insurance payments that are funded by the collection of contributions (old age pension, pension for seniority, survivor’s pension, disability allowance, pension for the unskilled, pension agreed by international convention for work performed abroad).
Welfare benefits are designed to supplement income: unemployment, sickness, maternity, cassa integrazione [workers’ benefit fund], severance payment and family allowance. INPS offices are located everywhere in Italy and contain a contact centre for general information on legal matters and individual cases. The telephone number of the combined INPS INAIL contact centre is 803164.
For employees, the employer must complete all the formalities required to register with the welfare department. The workers’ contributions are deducted from the gross wage. Self-employed workers must register and pay contributions to a separate social security fund (known as a CASSA) or directly to the INPS.
The National Institute for Insurance against Occupational Accidents and Diseases (INAIL) offers protection against occupational accidents and diseases. Italian law obliges employers to ensure workers against the risk of possible occupational accidents or diseases caused while performing their working activities.
Source: EURES