Faced with mounting financial difficulties in its automobile division, in October 2002, the Italian industrial group Fiat announced a new restructuring programme, only months after launching an earlier plan. The latest measures could result in 8,100 employees losing their jobs at Fiat Auto. The
Official figures on workplace accidents in Italy in 2001 were published in summer 2002. A noteworthy feature to emerge from the statistics is that men have many more accidents at work than women. In part this is due to men's higher labour market participation - and indeed the number of accidents
'Freelance work coordinated by an employer'- a form of employment relationship midway between dependent employment and self-employment - has been growing in Italy, and now makes up 9% of all employment. In June 2002, parliament passed a decree which introduces maternity allowances for women engaged
At the annual assembly of Confindustria, Italy's main employers' confederation, held in May 2002, the programme for the next two years presented by its president, Antonio D'Amato, was approved by a large majority. At the meeting, Confindustria stressed the crucial importance for Italy's
This feature examines social partner involvement in Italy's 2002 National Action Plan (NAP) for employment. It is one of a set of similar features for all the EU Member States, written in response to a questionnaire.
In the early months of 2002, various Italian internet and other 'new economy' businesses reacted to the crisis in the sector by threatening job losses or closures. As a consequence, workers approached the trade unions and resorted to innovative forms of action and communication. Are we therefore
The main political event during 2001 was the general election, held on 13 May. The centre-right coalition, the House of Freedom (Casa delle Libertà ) - made up of Forza Italia, the National Alliance (Alleanza Nazionale), the Northern League (Lega Nord), the Christian Democratic Centre (Centro
At its national congress held in February 2002, Cgil, Italy's largest trade union confederation, focused largely on its relationship with the centre-right government and the latter's current reform initiatives. The possibility of a general strike raised by Cgil was strong rejected by Cisl and Uil
The annual 'European week for safety and health at work [1]', promoted by the EU's European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, was held between 22 and 28 October 2001. Initiatives, mainly taking the form of information campaigns. were mounted in all 15 EU Member States. The aim of the European
The World Trade Organisation (WTO) held its fourth interministerial meeting in Doha in November 2001, and the Italian social partners took the opportunity to express their views on the WTO's role. According to the Confindustria employers' confederation, the role of the WTO as a body regulating world