Filcams Cgil campaigns for labor rights in Italian tourism sector

The Filcams Cgil trade union is conducting a national campaign titled “Non c’è turismo senza di noi” (There is no tourism without us) to highlight systemic labor issues within Italy's tourism and cultural sectors. The campaign aims to address precarious working conditions, including low wages, contract irregularities, and the prevalence of "grey contracts" where formal employment masks abuses such as unpaid overtime and fictitious part-time arrangements.

Union representatives report high rates of "wage poverty" and emphasize that despite record-breaking tourist flows, workers often face unstable employment. In regions like Emilia-Romagna, concerns have been raised regarding the lack of heat protection for outdoor workers, such as lifeguards, who must manage extended coastlines alone during peak temperatures with insufficient breaks.

In Calabria, economic analyses suggest that high summer tourist numbers do not necessarily translate into long-term regional development, noting a lack of stable year-round employment and wealth retention once the peak season concludes.