Lecco reports 280% surge in extraordinary redundancy hours

In the first nine months of 2026, Lombardy recorded 63.6 million authorized hours of Cassa Integrazione, an 11.9% decrease from the 72.2 million hours authorized during the same period in 2025. While this decline is less pronounced than the 21.9% national average, the data reveals a shift in the nature of industrial crises.

In Lombardy, ordinary redundancy hours fell by 23.3%, while extraordinary hours, typically linked to corporate restructuring and complex crises, rose by 16.8% to reach 24.1 million. This extraordinary component now accounts for 37.9% of the region's total authorized hours, up from 28.6% the previous year.

The impact is particularly acute in Lecco, where extraordinary redundancy hours surged by 280%, despite a 6% increase in ordinary hours. Other areas also saw significant shifts, such as Varese, which saw a 52.1% overall increase with extraordinary hours rising by 351.6%.

The industrial sector accounts for 93% of regional authorizations, with the mechanical engineering sector alone representing 16.1 million extraordinary hours, or 66.9% of the Lombardy total. UIL coordinator Dario Esposito described the situation in Lecco as a delicate and complex industrial transition, calling for active policies and targeted industrial plans to protect the manufacturing and metalworking sectors.