Italy: Employees obligation to undertake training

In Italy, employees' obligation to undertake training is connected to the reception of social shock absorber instruments, both within a still existing employment relationship (that is the Ordinary Wage Guarantee Fund, Cassa integrazione guadagni ordinaria, CIGO; the Extraordinary Wage Guarantee Fund (Cassa integrazione guadagni straordinaria, CIGS); solidarity contracts; solidarity funds) and in case of unemployment (NaSPI and citizenship income).

According to Legislative Decree n. 150/2015, orientation activities are available to workers suspended from the work activity and beneficiary of an income support instrument within a still existing employment relationship or to the unemployed beneficiary of the New Social Insurance for Employment (NASpI). These activities are defined by the public employment centres in a personalised pact, which might also include training activities. Beneficiaries could lose the right to the benefit if they do not attend orientation initiatives without a justified reason. Failure to comply with these obligations entails proportional sanctions, ranging from the deduction of a fraction or an entire month of the benefit, up to the lapse of the same.

According to Decree law n. 4/2019, within 30 days of the recognition of the benefit, the beneficiaries of the citizenship income which are able to work are summoned by the public employment centres to stipulate an employment pact, i.e. a personalised programme aiming at reintroducing the beneficiary into the labour market. The employment pact might also include professional requalification and completion of studies. The beneficiary must abide with the commitments set forth in the employment pact, under penalty of revocation of the benefit.