This report describes the current situation in relation to employee financial participation (EFP) in the new Member States of the European Union. It provides a summary of the main findings regarding the incidence of the different forms of EFP and their implementation. It also describes the
Following two years of downward economic trends in the Italian metalworking industry, in February 2005 negotiations began between the social partners on renewal of the pay part of the sectoral collective agreement, which had expired at the end of 2004. After this first meeting, the metalworking
In May 2005, the main trade union organisations in the services sector signed company agreements for the employees of Manpower and Obiettivo Lavoro, two of the largest temporary work agencies in Italy. In the case of Manpower, this is the first company agreement covering its employees. The main
In late July 2005, the executive committee of Confindustria, the major Italian employers’ association, and the presidents of its regional branches discussed a provisional document proposing reform of the collective bargaining structure established by the national tripartite agreement of 23 July 1993
Elections to the European Parliament and for the renewal of 4,518 local councils (including 30 provincial centres, 63 provinces and one region, Sardinia) were held simultaneously on 12 and 13 June 2004. A total electorate of 50,007,650 was involved in the European elections, 35,212,317 in the
In April 2005, the US-based multinational Whirlpool, the world's largest manufacturer of domestic appliances, announced a restructuring plan for its plants in Italy that envisages around 1,000 redundancies by 2007. The plants concerned are located in the province of Varese. According to the company
This article gives a brief overview of the industrial relations aspects of the topic of unskilled workers and unskilled work in Italy, as of February 2005. It looks at: national definitions of unskilled workers or work; the number of unskilled workers and workers in unskilled jobs, and the extent of
In early 2005, the Eurispes research institute published its annual survey of Italy's political, economic and social situation. The latest report devotes considerable attention to an analysis of recent changes in the Italian labour market, with particular regard to 'atypical' work. The study - which
In order to adjust to ever greater international competition, increasing numbers of Italian firms - mainly in the manufacturing sector - are reorganising production and especially taking the decision to relocate abroad, a strategy that has become widespread among companies in the North-East of Italy
In late 2004, in the run-up to negotiations over the renewal of the pay part of the national collective agreement for the Italian metalworking industry, the three main sectoral trade union federations - Fiom-Cgil, Fim-Cisl and Uilm-Uil - sought to draw up a single platform of demands to present to
The Italian-based Parmalat, one of the largest agro-food groups in the world, was hit by a financial crisis at the end of 2003 which led to judicial inquiries involving the owners and management. In order to ensure the continuity of Parmalat’s activities, a decree-law issued by the government in