Fair wages for women, young people, and employment development in the Single Economic Zone (SEZ) , reducing the country's regional disparities. As is now tradition, on the eve of May 1st, the government will pass a measure dedicated to employment in the Council of Ministers. And by the end of the week, it will also pass the Housing Plan, a measure also dedicated to employment.

These measures are part of a broader strategy aimed at supporting the creation of "stable, quality employment," Giorgia Meloni explained at a press conference. These measures are a way "to thank the Italians who contribute every day with their work to making our nation great," she emphasized.

The decree allocates nearly one billion euros (934 million) for the renewal of several "important and effective" employment incentives , the Prime Minister reports, with a significant change: "Those incentives will be accessible only if workers are recognized and paid what we define as a fair wage." That is, the overall economic compensation received by workers. This does not consist solely of the hourly wage, but of all the financial elements that contribute to the worker's benefit. Because, the Prime Minister specifies, "in the event of the introduction of a minimum hourly wage, we would risk creating not an additional guarantee parameter, but, paradoxically, a parameter that replaces the overall amount that contracts currently represent and construct, thus risking a downward revision of workers' rights." This therefore means that those who sign contracts and underpay workers will not be entitled to incentives.

The new decree is the result of "a broad discussion and in-depth political reflection , supported by significant financial resources," assures Labor Minister Marina Elvira Calderone . The goal is not to "read the book from the end," that is, not to limit ourselves to looking only at the final data, but to evaluate every single aspect of a contract and weigh each intervention.

WOMEN – Significant measures, emphasized Family Minister Eugenia Roccella, are those dedicated to women: "We have introduced a tax relief for companies that implement tools to balance work and family life, and for this very purpose we have implemented a certification for companies and organizations."

PARENTAL LEAVE – Parental leave, which is 80% covered, for example, has been extended to three months: "It's a very concrete, very cost-effective measure, because for a worker earning €35,000 a year, it represents a benefit of around €4,000," Meloni explains.

INCENTIVES AND SEZs – Contribution exemptions of up to 100% have been introduced for permanent hires throughout 2026: up to €650 per month, rising to €800 for women residing in the regions of the Single SEZ for Southern Italy, with a maximum duration of 24 months. A spending limit of €26.5 million is envisaged for 2026, €63.7 million for 2027, and €51.3 million for 2028.

YOUTH – For those under 35, the youth bonus and the ZES bonus provide a complete exemption from social security contributions paid by private employers, excluding those due to INAIL, up to €500 per month per worker and up to €650 if working in a ZES. For this purpose, €109.7 million has been allocated for 2026, €252.4 million for 2027, and €135.4 million for 2028, plus another €26 million for 2026, €60 million for 2027, and €34 million for 2028 for ZES.

To stabilize fixed-term contracts, there are incentives to convert short-term contracts into permanent ones, particularly for young people finding their first stable job. In this case, too, a contribution relief of up to €500 per month is available.

(Unioneonline)

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