Browse through brief employment and labor law updates from around the globe. Contact a Littler attorney for more information or view our global locations.

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Compensation Increased for Parental Leave

New Legislation Enacted

Authors: Carlo Majer, Partner, and Elena Guerrera, Associate – Littler Italy

Compensation during parental leave has been increased, pursuant to Article 1, paragraph no. 179 of Law no. 213/2023. In addition to the current compensation rate of 80% of salary for the first month of leave, a compensation rate of 60%, instead of the current 30%, will be applicable for an additional month of leave. In addition, for 2024 only, the second month of parental leave will be compensated at the rate of 80% of salary instead of 60%.

The Renewal of the Collective Bargaining Agreement for Trade Sector Companies

New Regulation or Official Guidance

Authors: Carlo Majer, Partner, and Elisabetta Rebagliati, Senior Associate – Littler Italy

The renewal of the collective bargaining agreement for companies in the trade sector (Confcommercio), which expired in 2019, was finally signed on March 22, 2024. The economic part of the agreement is retroactive to April 1, 2023, and will expire on March 31, 2027. All other provisions of the agreement went into effect on April 1, 2024.

The agreement provides for increases in the minimum wages and on a lump sum payment to cover the contractual gap period. The renewal also provides for amendments to:

• The personnel classification system to update it in areas such as IT
• The regulation of fixed-term contracts to adapt them to legislative changes that have occurred
• The flexible clauses in contracts for part-time female workers, increasing their compensation
• The leaves for female victims of violence, increasing the leave for an additional 90 days in certain cases

Smart-working: No New Extensions

New Regulation or Official Guidance

Authors: Carlo Majer, Partner, and Alessandra Pisati, Associate – Littler Italy

After April 1, 2024, the right to so-called private sector smart-working, which provided for remote work for workers with children under 14 years old and so-called “fragile workers” will no longer be in effect.

Employment Agencies: A New Code of Conduct for the Application of the GDPR

New Regulation or Official Guidance

Authors: Carlo Majer, Partner, and Francesca Rocco, Senior Associate – Littler Italy

On February 14, 2024, the Italian Data Protection Authority announced the approval of the Code of Conduct adopted by Assolavoro (the Italian Association of Employment Agencies). The Code of Conduct will be applicable to Italian Employment Agencies on a voluntary basis, upon completion of a specific procedure, and aims to regulate data controllers and processors to protect the rights and freedoms of natural persons, including job applicants.

Aligned with Article 40 of the GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679), the Code regulates the information to be submitted to job applicants, how personal data must be communicated, the length of time for storage of data, the cautions that must be exercised in the automated processing of data, among other related issues.