Italian fire maintenance technician qualification dispute

CNA Modena initially issued an alert regarding a potential shortage of fire prevention maintenance technicians. The association warned that a September 25 deadline established by the ‘Decreto Controlli’ for technician qualification could prevent many workers from continuing their duties, even if they had submitted exam applications on time. CNA requested urgent intervention from the Undersecretary of the Interior to protect technicians who had met legal obligations but were facing delays in exam scheduling.

Following these concerns, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Labor issued a new decree introducing transitional provisions. This measure allows technicians who submitted valid applications for requirement evaluation by September 25, 2026, to continue their maintenance and control activities until their specific procedures are completed, with a final cutoff of March 31, 2027. Italian artisan groups, including CNA, Confartigianato, and Casartigiani, expressed satisfaction with the decree, noting it aims to ensure the continuity of essential fire safety services during the transition to the new qualification framework.