In Italy, unlike other states in the EU, there are no fixed minimum wage rates set by law for all workers in a specific trade. Instead, the determination of wages relies on social parties and collective negotiations.
Collective negotiations are legally binding only for employers registered with relevant trade unions, but all employers, regardless of union affiliation, must ensure that their employees receive a fair and proportional wage based on the quality and quantity of their work, as specified in Article 36 of the Constitution.
For wages to be fair, they should match what’s agreed upon in national agreements for the industry. These agreements, made by major trade organizations, set the basic minimum wage. If there’s a dispute, the courts use these agreements to decide.
When it comes to contributions for insurance and social security, the law says that if there are different agreements in the same industry, the minimum pay used for contributions can’t be lower than what major unions agree on.
The majority of workers posted in Italy, based on data from the National Labour Inspectorate, operate in the construction, transport, and mechanical industries.
To view the basic minimum wage established by these contracts, click here. National Collective agreements can also be accessed through the National archive of CNEL collective agreements (Archivio Nazionale dei contratti collettivi di lavoro del CNEL).
Giuditta Petreni has over 10 years of experience in assisting companies and business investors with relocation of managers and staff to Italy. Giuditta has extensive experience advising corporate and private clients on a full range of Italian immigration categories. She is fluent in Italian and English.
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