Giaccone, Mario

The third Quality of work survey report, published by Italy’s National Research Institute for Vocational Education and Training Employment and Social Policies (Isfol), provides both synthetic indicators and an accurate overview of the quality of work in Italy. It shows that while the work climate is still good, job satisfaction is still relatively low because of poor rewards and poor work prospects.

A report prepared by the Associazione Bruno Trentin [1], a research institute linked with Italy’s main trade union Cgil [2], has exmained the effect of the economic crisis on migrant workers in Italy. The impact of the crisis on migrants’ living and working conditions [3] is based on analysis of Istat Labour Force Survey (LFS [4]) figures. These were combines with the results of an ad hoc survey carried out with a sample of 1,000 migrant workers or jobseekers who had asked for support from Cgil union officials and offices in 10 out of 20 regions. [1] http://www.associazionetrentin.it/ [2] http://www.cgil.it/ [3] https://www.ires.it/contenuti/l%E2%80%99impatto-della-crisi-sulle-condizioni-vita-e-lavoro-degli-immigrati [4] http://www.istat.it/en/archive/36394

The Ministry of Labour has compiled information for an annual report on inspection activities each year since 2008. The findings are summarised in the Annual report on social cohesion (in Italian) [1] in cooperation with the National Institute for Statistics (Istat [2]). The first social cohesion report was published in 2010. [1] http://www.inps.it/portale/default.aspx?sID=%3b0%3b&lastMenu=7730&iMenu=12&p4=2 [2] http://www.istat.it

On December 2013 Istat [1], Italy’s national bureau of statistics, and the Department for Equal Opportunities presented a report on gender stereotypes and discrimination. The report, Gender stereotypes, disclaimers and discrimination [2], was based on a survey [3] of discrimination based on gender, sexual orientation and ethnic origin, and was conducted by Istat during the summer of 2011. [1] http://www.istat.it [2] http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/106599 [3] http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/30726

Micro and small companies constitute the backbone of private business in Europe, accounting for nearly 99% of all enterprises, more than half of total employment in the private sector and an even greater proportion of new jobs. Despite their crucial place in the economy, there has been little research on micro and small companies, particularly in terms of the implementation of fundamental workers’ rights – such as health and safety at work – and the positive role of social dialogue in striving for good working conditions and industrial relations. Given this knowledge gap, Eurofound undertook a research project aimed at investigating industrial relations and social dialogue in micro and small companies. The research was based on various information sources, including a review of Eurofound’s earlier research and other literature on the topic, a comparative evaluation of contributions from 28 national correspondents and 10 case studies of good practice in micro and small companies in five countries.

A new report published by Italy’s National Institute for Statistics (Istat [1]) in cooperation with Italy’s tripartite National Economics and Labour Council (Cnel [2]) looks at the health and well-being of workers in Italy. The 2013 Equitable and sustainable well-being report (BES) [3] attempts to assess the impact on workers’ health and on social issues such as inequality of factors not measured by gross national product statistics. [1] http://www.istat.it/ [2] http://www.cnel.it/home [3] http://www.istat.it/it/archivio/84348

Since its first edition in 2005, the PLUS (Participation, Labour and Unemployment Survey) (in Italian) [1], carried out by the Institute of Training and Labour Studies (Isfol [2]), has been among the richest sources of information relating to gender differences in the labour market in Italy. It is especially useful for information regarding the gender pay gap (IT0611049I [3]). [1] http://www.isfol.it/temi/Lavoro_professioni/mercato-del-lavoro/plus [2] http://www.isfol.it [3] www.eurofound.europa.eu/ef/observatories/eurwork/articles/undefined/gender-pay-gap-wider-for-better-educated-women

A report, Development and protection of well-being and organisational health in healthcare (in Italian, 3.88Mb PDF) [1], is being promoted by the Italian Federation of Hospital and Local Health Agencies (FIASO [2]) with the aim of establishing a shared protocol for assessing the risks of work-related stress. This is in response to the implementation of the 2004 framework agreement on work-related stress (77.4Kb PDF) [3] drawn up by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC [4]) in collaboration with various European employers’ organisations. The framework was included in Italy’s legislative decree 81/2008 [5]. [1] http://www.fiaso.net/home/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=1098&Itemid= [2] http://www.fiaso.it/ [3] http://www.etuc.org/IMG/pdf_Framework_agreement_on_work-related_stress_EN.pdf [4] http://www.etuc.org [5] http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=38af885f-8f8b-4844-ad0a-577b56cea043

The number of women in paid employment in Italy remains low, particularly in the more traditional southern regions of the country. The other main factor is a welfare regime which relies largely on the family – and especially women – to act as the main care provider. This has been discussed by a number of researchers, including Ferrera (1966) and Danish sociologist Gosta Esping-Andersen (1999) who labelled it the Mediterranean welfare regime.

The wage gap between the public and private sector is a recurrent issue in debates about the Italian economy and labour market. This gap is often said to be caused by the more ‘generous’ pay increases agreed in collective bargaining in the public sector because of its lower exposure to competitive pressures. This seems to be the rationale behind the 2010–2013 freeze on public sector pay with the aim of containing public expenditure even though a dossier presented to the Italian parliament (in Italian, 80Kb PDF) [1] by the National Institute of Statistics (Istat [2]) does not support such a view. [1] http://www.istat.it/it/files/2011/07/dossier1.pdf [2] http://www.istat.it/en/