European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
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The mandatory procedure foreseen by law no. 223/1991 in case of collective dismissals (i.e. the dismissal of at least five workers within 120 days in companies with more than 15 employees) foresees that the employer needs to give a written preventive communication to company employee representatives (RSU or RSA), trade unions, and to the local branch of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies, that is the territorial labour inspectorates (Ispettorati Territoriali del Lavoro).
If the redundancies concern production units located in various provinces of the same region or in several regions, the communication must be sent directly to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies. After the mandatory communication, under request of the trade unions, a first consultation phase between the management and unions begins, lasting up to 45 days. After this deadline, the company communicates the results of the consultation and the reasons for any negative outcome to the relevant territory labour inspectorate.
When the joint examination has given a negative outcome or has not taken place because it was not requested by the trade unions, the territory labour inspectorate has the power to convene the parties for further examination and can formulate proposals for reaching an agreement. This further examination must be completed within 30 days.
After these two procedures, lasting 75 days in total, employers can proceed with the collective dismissals.
In the current framework, trade unions play an important role. Nevertheless, employers are not obliged to conclude an agreement.
Eurofound (2015), Italy: Public authorities information and consultation on dismissals, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/public-authorities-information-and-consultation-on-dismissals/italy
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