Italy's 2026 Labor Decree Introduces Proximity Agreements, Experimental Secondments and Comprehensive Wage Framework

The Labour Decree that took effect on 1 May 2026 reforms Italian collective bargaining by creating a formal procedure for proximity agreements. These agreements allow qualified company or territorial accords to derogate from national collective‑agreement rules within set limits. Employers must deposit the agreements with the Ministry of Labour and the national archive, and firms with up to fifteen employees that adopt worsening provisions must also register them with the regional labour inspectorate and provide written notice to the affected workers.

From 28 June 2026 until 31 December 2029 a pilot scheme for the secondment of personnel will run experimentally. The new regime permits secondments without the traditional requirement of the host employer’s interest, provided a mandatory union agreement is reached and safeguards for job continuity and productivity are observed.

The decree also enshrines the UNICOOP model, retaining the statutory minimum wage while introducing a Comprehensive Economic Treatment (TEC). TEC combines the base wage with contractual welfare, complementary pensions, certified continuous training and collective performance bonuses, linking compensation to productivity, digitalisation and process improvements. The law now moves from political approval to practical implementation by firms and trade unions across Italy.