Italy: groundbreaking company agreements bank on consensus

Flexibility and top social respect.  The chemical industry is still the leader in terms of long “collaborative” industrial relations.  Federchimica leader Giorgio Squinzi (performing his sixth term), who is also Mapei’s CEO, told the newspaper that his sector is “light years away from the auto industry,” with the first exceptions to the CCN obtained in 1998 “with all unions’ consent.”  Saving jobs was often the driving force behind agreements on unprecedented increased flexibility such as, in commerce, agreements on working time in the Upim and Coin supermarkets, where flexibility was granted in exchange for the increase of variable pay anchored in the result-based bonus, negotiated and awarded each year, which also helped reduce precarious labor and increase recruitment.  In the same spirit, in the industry, Pirelli signed a union agreement for the development of its new industrial pole in Settimo Torinese, which employs most of the group’s 3,700 Italian employees.  It provides for €150 million of investments into state-of-the-art technology in exchange for equal treatment between the employees of the two unified establishments; the factory is open for 342 days; holiday and resting time have been amended; and Mobilità has been enforced for 250 surplus jobs.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

which also helped reduce precarious labor and increase recruitment. In the same spirit, in the industry, Pirelli signed a union agreement for the development of its new industrial pole in Settimo Torinese, which employs most of the group’s 3,700 Italian employees. It provides for €150 million of investments into state-of-the-art technology in exchange for equal treatment between the employees of the two unified establishments; the factory is open for 342 days; holiday and resting time have be

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Spain: new terms and conditions for in-company training contracts
On 25 November, Spain's Council of Ministers approved a regulation on training contracts. This text defines the terms and conditions for hosting work-study students and interns doing professional...
2
EU: Commission issues first recommendation on human capital as part of European Semester
In parallel with the European Semester adopted on 25 November, which proposes guidelines to member states on economic policies for the coming year, the European Commission has adopted an...
3
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
4
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...