Doing Business in Italy Guide

Employment

Italian employment contracts must comply with national labor laws and collective bargaining agreements (CCNL). Contracts may be:

Permanent (tempo indeterminato) – Default form with full protections
Fixed-term (tempo determinato) – Allowed for specific projects or seasonal work
Apprenticeship (apprendistato) – Combines training with employment
Freelance/Consultant (collaborazione) – Used for independent contractors

Contracts must specify duties, compensation, working hours, and termination terms.

Standard working hours are 40 per week, with a legal maximum of 48 including overtime. Employees are entitled to:

Collective agreements may grant additional benefits or leave entitlements.

Employers must register with:

INPS – National social security agency
INAIL – Workplace injury insurance
Other institutions such as those managing supplementary pension and unemployment benefit schemes, life and health insurance where applicable

Contributions cover pensions, unemployment, disability, and parental leave. Rates vary by sector and employee category.

For more information see this article

Termination must follow legal procedures and may require justification. Employees are entitled to:

Notice period (depends on assigned level within national collective bargaining agreements, can range from 15 days to several months)
Severance pay (Trattamento di Fine Rapporto or TFR)
Unemployment benefits if eligible

Unjustified dismissal may lead to reinstatement or compensation. Collective agreements often define additional rules.

If you have any questions , feel free to contact us.