Italy: confusion surrounds new standards for transparent working conditions

The decree-law transposing the European Union directive on transparent working conditions into Italian legislation, which came into force on 13 August, has started to be applied in a climate of confusion, with successive circulars issued to guide interpretation proving partly contradictory. Businesses are speaking out against procedures they believe to be too cumbersome, and the right-wing coalition that is set to govern the country following the recent elections may well revise these standards.
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A circular issued by Italy’s labour ministry has sparked new controversy around decree-law 104/2022 – which transposes into Italian law EU directive 2019/1152, on transparent and predictable working conditions (see articles n°13137, 13002 and 13173) – by partly contradicting the interpretation of the Italian labour inspectorate.

Labour ministry limits reference to collective agreements. On 10 August, a circular from the labour inspectorate stated that employers had the option of referring worker

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