Italy extends paper ID cards, launches national maths high school and reforms labour rules

The Ministry of Education and Merit issued Decree No. 104 on 10 June 2026, authorising a national pilot of the Liceo Matematico that will start in the 2026/27 school year. The pilot aims to place mathematics at the centre of secondary education, promote interdisciplinary labs and strengthen critical‑thinking skills. Minister Giuseppe Valditara said, “Investing in mathematics means investing in the quality of education and the country’s ability to face present and future challenges.”

A decree‑law (No. 108) approved on 26 June 2026 extends the validity of paper identity cards beyond the 3 August 2026 deadline. Cards that have not yet expired remain valid for all interactions with public administration, health, banking and other services until their printed expiry date, but must be replaced by an electronic ID (CIE) for travel abroad. The temporary extension lasts until 31 January 2027.

Law 112/2026, which converts the earlier Decreto Lavoro 2026, replaces a universal minimum‑wage floor with a “fair salary” model that ties pay to the Trattamento Economico Complessivo of collective agreements. The measure also introduces specific rules for platform riders and digital workers, including mandatory use of digital identities and fines of €1,000‑€1,500 for violations. In addition, the law revises the regime for agency‑contracted workers: missions may now last a maximum of 60 months, and all months spent on temporary assignments count toward the overall 24‑month limit for fixed‑term contracts.