Unindustria Calabria warns of impact from craftsmanship reform

Fortunato Rizzo, president of Small Industry at Unindustria Calabria, has expressed concern regarding a proposed national reform of the craftsmanship sector. The reform considers raising the size threshold for artisan enterprises to up to 49 employees.

Rizzo argues that applying a contributory and contractual regime designed for artisans to larger companies could create unfair competition. He notes that Calabria is particularly vulnerable to these changes due to its highly fragmented productive fabric. According to Bank of Italy data, the average company size in Calabria is 4.9 employees, compared to the national average of 9.1, with 55% of workers employed in firms with fewer than 10 employees.

The discussion also references concerns raised by Confindustria regarding the potential fiscal impact, which could exceed one billion euros annually, and the possible involvement of up to 1.8 million workers in changes to collective bargaining agreements.