Italy proposes extending truck and bus driver age limit to 70

Italian Infrastructure and Transport Minister Matteo Salvini has proposed allowing truck and bus drivers to continue working voluntarily until the age of 70. The measure aims to address the acute shortage of drivers currently affecting the Italian transport sector.

Under the proposal, which is expected to be presented to the Council of Ministers next week as part of a highway code reform, the extension would not be mandatory. Instead, it would be an option for those who wish to remain in the profession and meet specific health requirements. To ensure road safety, drivers over the age of 65 would be subject to more frequent medical examinations, occurring every two years rather than the current five-year cycle.

The proposal has met with opposition from labor groups such as Filt-Cgil, which argues that driving is an exhausting job and that workers should be allowed to retire early. Other critics have also raised concerns regarding potential impacts on road safety.