Italian metalworking sector wage issues

In late July 2026, Italy’s Fiom Cgil union in Siena presented a territorial agreement demanding that employers fully compensate metalworkers placed on temporary government‑funded reduced‑hours schemes (cassa integrazione) up to 100% of their regular salary when layoffs are driven by short‑term market downturns rather than structural problems. Union data highlighted a steep increase in authorized cassa integrazione hours—from 426,562 in 2023 to more than 2.1 million in 2025—while local inflation pressures heightened concerns over household purchasing power.

A few days later, a report from the metalworking federation Fim Cisl revealed that the sector’s gender pay gap remained close to 20%. The analysis of 1,104 firms and nearly 388 000 employees showed women earning on average €38,313 versus €44,260 for men, a disparity that widened to almost 20% when overtime, bonuses and benefits were considered. The gap was linked to higher part‑time work among women, unequal shift assignments and lower female representation in higher‑pay roles.

Together, the snapshots illustrate ongoing wage‑related challenges in the Italian metalworking industry: union-driven efforts to secure full‑pay protection for workers on temporary layoffs, and persistent gender‑based earnings disparities despite recent data collection and public discussion.