Italian female employment and maternity support

Data from INPS indicates that the ‘bonus nido’ childcare subsidy has positively influenced female employment in Italy, with mothers receiving the subsidy showing a 17% increase in the probability of working in the year following childbirth. To assist families, INPS introduced a geolocation tool within its Family and Parenting Portal to help parents locate childcare facilities partnered with the subsidy program.

Despite these subsidies, labor challenges persist regarding work-life balance. In the Trentino region, voluntary resignations among mothers during their child’s first year rose significantly in early 2026 compared to 2025. Key drivers for these departures include difficulties organizing childcare and rigid work schedules. Additionally, legislative provisions allow women to claim figurative pension contributions for mandatory maternity leave periods to address social security gaps, provided they eventually reach a minimum of five years of actual contributions.

Labor unions have noted that mismatches between nursery school hours and inflexible work shifts or the refusal of part-time requests continue to drive women to leave their positions.