Labor law
in Italy.

Similar to all members in the EU, Italy has a comprehensive labor law system in place that ensures protection for both employees and employers. The labor code of Italy is where you can find all legislative elements that pertain to labor law in Italy. Key elements of Italian labor law include: 

Italian labor law is a comprehensive system designed to protect the rights of workers while balancing the needs of employers. It encompasses a range of topics including contracts, working hours, holidays, sick leave, maternity and paternity leave, termination, discrimination, and more. Consider:

• Employment Contracts — in Italy these can be either for an indefinite period (permanent contracts) or for a fixed term. The contract should specify the job role, working hours, salary, and other conditions of employment.
• Working Hours — the standard working week is 40 hours, usually spread over 5 days. Overtime is permitted but is regulated, typically requiring higher pay.
• Rest Periods and Holidays — employees are entitled to a rest period of 11 consecutive hours every 24 hours, and a rest period of 24 consecutive hours every seven days, typically coinciding with Sunday. Full-time workers are entitled to a minimum of 4 weeks of paid vacation per year.
• Maternity and Paternity Leave — female employees are entitled to maternity leave (congedo di maternità), which usually consists of 2 months before and 3 months after childbirth. Fathers are entitled to an uninterrupted compulsory leave of 7 days after the birth of their child. Additional parental leave is available for both parents until the child is 12 years old.
• Sick Leave —employees are entitled to paid sick leave, provided they have a medical certificate. The amount of paid sick leave that can be taken and the level of pay received can depend on the employee’s length of service and other factors.
• Termination —dismissal laws are complex and depend on factors such as the size of the company and the reason for termination. Employees are generally entitled to notice or payment in lieu of notice, and may be entitled to severance pay.
• Anti-Discrimination Law — Italian labor law prohibits discrimination on grounds such as race, nationality, gender, sexual orientation, religion, political opinions, and disability.
• Remote Work — the “Lavoro Agile” law governs remote work, providing guidelines for working hours, health and safety, equal treatment, and more.