Italian labor law is called diritto del lavoro. It regulates hiring, pay, working conditions, leave, workplace safety, social protection, and the end of employment. Employment may be open-ended or fixed-term, full-time or part-time. Other arrangements include apprenticeships and genuine self-employment, but the real way the work is organized helps determine its legal nature. The written employment information normally identifies the parties, role, workplace, start date, pay, working pattern, and applicable collective agreement. Workers should keep this information together with later changes. Collective agreements are commonly called contratti collettivi nazionali di lavoro, or CCNL. They often provide detailed rules for job classifications, pay structure, working time, leave, notice, and disciplinary procedures in a sector. Employers must protect health and safety and respect rules against unlawful discrimination and harassment. Workers also have duties, including performing agreed work carefully and following lawful safety instructions. Wages are usually documented through a payslip called a busta paga. Social security contributions are generally connected with INPS, while workplace accident insurance commonly involves INAIL. Dismissal is called licenziamento, while resignation is called dimissioni. The validity and consequences of ending employment depend on the reason, procedure, contract, collective agreement, and actual working relationship. Trade unions, labor consultants, lawyers, inspectorates, and courts can have different roles in a dispute. Informal discussion may solve a simple error, while conciliation or legal action may be needed for a serious disagreement. Documents are central to employment cases. Contracts, schedules, payslips, messages, warnings, medical records, and proof of work can show what happened in practice.
Labor law in Italy
Labor law in Italy governs the relationship between workers, employers, unions, and social institutions. It combines legislation with collective agreements known as CCNL and the individual employment contract. The worker’s true duties and working conditions can matter more than the label used by the parties.
Tip
Compare your written contract and CCNL with the work you actually perform. Check each payslip and record working time, leave, and important instructions while events are still fresh. Obtain prompt advice before accepting a major contract change or reacting to dismissal.

