Meloni's labour decree: fair wage and end to pirate contracts
Green light for the labour decree with fair wage and incentives for hiring. Meloni: pact with businesses and unions.
Contesto
In brief - Green light for the fair wage labor decree - Incentives for hiring and stop to pirate contracts - Meloni: pact with businesses and unions ## Key facts - What: Fair wage labor decree and incentives - When: April 29, 2026 - Where: Italy - Who: Italian government, businesses, unions - Amount: Not yet specified The labor decree has received the green light from the council of ministers. Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the measure at a press conference, along with Undersecretary Alfredo Mantovano and the ministers of Labor, Marina Calderone, and Equal Opportunities, Eugenia Roccella. The decree introduces the so-called 'fair wage,' defined as the overall economic treatment established by national collective contracts signed by the most representative employers' and workers' organizations at the national level. This measure aims to counter pirate contracts and guarantee fair economic treatment for workers. The prime minister emphasized the importance of an alliance with intermediary bodies, trade unions, and employers' associations, ensuring that the government is open to collecting improvement proposals. Minister Calderone reiterated the government's choice to support high-quality national collective bargaining. ### Main novelties The decree introduces several novelties, including the fair wage and changes to the rule on contractual renewals. The fair wage is defined as the overall economic treatment determined by the most representative national collective contracts. This measure excludes those who sign pirate contracts or underpay workers from accessing benefits. Furthermore, the rule on contractual renewals has been modified to give greater flexibility to the signatory parties in regulating wage increases and any one-time amounts. The labor decree r...
Dettagli operativi
Implications for cross-border workers The labor decree introduces several measures that can have a significant impact on cross-border workers who work in Italy and reside in Switzerland. In particular, the introduction of the fair salary can ensure more equitable economic treatment for workers, including cross-border commuters. This provision, which came into effect on January 1, 2024, aims to combat pirate contracts and ensure that workers receive adequate economic treatment based on the most representative national collective contracts. ### Comparison with the previous situation Before the introduction of the labor decree, cross-border workers could be subject to pirate contracts that did not guarantee adequate economic treatment. For example, a cross-border worker residing in Lugano who worked in Italy with a pirate contract could receive a salary 20-30% lower than an Italian colleague with a regular contract. With the new provision, workers will be entitled to a fair salary and incentives for hiring. This can have a positive impact on the quality of life of cross-border workers and their ability to plan for the future. ### Concrete scenarios Suppose a cross-border worker who works in Italy and resides in Switzerland has a pirate contract. With the introduction of the labor decree, this worker will be entitled to a fair salary based on the most representative national collective contracts. For example, a construction worker residing in Mendrisio who worked in Italy with a pirate contract of 1,200 euros per month could now see their salary increase to 1,500-1,600 euros, in line with the collective contracts of the sector. Furthermore, the employer who signs pirate contracts will not be entitled to public work incentives, such as contributions for professional tra...
Punti chiave
Concrete actions for cross-border workers To benefit from the new measures introduced by the labor decree of January 1, 2024, cross-border workers must follow some concrete procedures. First, it is important to verify that their employment contract complies with the most representative national collective labor agreements, such as the CCNL for employees of professional firms or that for commerce workers. If not, it is advisable to contact the employer to request an adjustment of the contract. ### Steps to follow 1. Check your employment contract - Ensure that the salary complies with the contractual minimums. For example, a construction worker in Lugano should earn at least CHF 3,900 per month for full-time work. - Make sure that the annual leave is at least 20 working days, as provided for by the construction CCNL. 2. Contact the employer to request a contract adjustment, if necessary - Send a formal request via email or registered letter, citing the specific regulations. - Example of a request: 'Based on Article 3 of the construction CCNL, I request an adjustment of my salary to CHF 3,900 per month.' 3. Consult a labor expert or a union to obtain detailed information and assistance - Unions such as USS or ASI can provide legal and contractual support. - Example: a cross-border worker from Chiasso can turn to USS for free advice. 4. Monitor official communications from the government and unions to stay updated on new measures and available benefits - Subscribe to the newsletters of the Ticino Department of Labor and regularly consult the Frontalieri Ticino website. ### Useful tools For cross-border workers who wish to verify the compliance of their employment contract, the salary calculator available on the Frontalieri Ticino website can be...
Punti chiave
[{"q":"What does the labor decree provide in terms of fair wages?","a":"The labor decree introduces the so-called ‘fair wage’, defined as the overall economic treatment determined by the most representative national collective contracts. This measure aims to guarantee fair economic treatment for workers and to combat pirate contracts."},{"q":"What are the implications for cross-border workers?","a":"The labor decree can have a significant impact on cross-border workers who work in Italy and reside in Switzerland. In particular, the introduction of the fair wage can guarantee more equitable economic treatment for workers, including cross-border workers. This measure aims to combat pirate contracts and ensure that workers receive adequate economic treatment based on the most representative national collective contracts."},{"q":"What should cross-border workers do to benefit from the new measures?","a":"Cross-border workers should ensure that their employment contract is in line with the most representative national collective contracts. In case of doubt, it is advisable to consult a labor expert or a union for detailed information and assistance."}]
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does the labor decree provide in terms of fair wages?
- The labor decree introduces the so-called ‘fair wage’, defined as the overall economic treatment determined by the most representative national collective contracts. This measure aims to guarantee fair economic treatment for workers and to combat pirate contracts.
- What are the implications for cross-border workers?
- The labor decree can have a significant impact on cross-border workers who work in Italy and reside in Switzerland. In particular, the introduction of the fair wage can guarantee more equitable economic treatment for workers, including cross-border workers. This measure aims to combat pirate contracts and ensure that workers receive adequate economic treatment based on the most representative national collective contracts.
- What should cross-border workers do to benefit from the new measures?
- Cross-border workers should ensure that their employment contract is in line with the most representative national collective contracts. In case of doubt, it is advisable to consult a labor expert or a union for detailed information and assistance.