Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2011, published 101st ILC session (2012)

Seafarers' Pensions Convention, 1946 (No. 71) - Italy (Ratification: 1962)

Article 3(1) of the Convention. Pension schemes for seafarers. The Committee notes from the Government’s report received August 2009 that under the general compulsory insurance scheme, established by Act No. 413/1984, as last amended by Act No. 247/2007, seafarers may receive an old age pension: (i) under the non-contributory and mixed systems, at the age of 65 if they are men and at 60 if they are women and have completed a contribution period of at least 1,040 weeks; (ii) under the contributory system, at 65 for men and at 60 for women with an effective contribution period of at least 5 years, or irrespective of the age with a contribution period equal or superior to 40 years. In addition, the Committee notes that an early retirement is provided only for those who have reached the age of 55 and have a contribution period of 1,040 weeks, including 520 weeks of sea service in the engine room or a radiotelegraphy station. Recalling that Article 3(1) of the Convention provides that pensions provided by the scheme must be payable upon attaining the age of either 55 or 60 years, the Committee requests the Government to provide additional explanations on how the raising of the retirement age to 65, coupled with limited possibilities for early retirement, impacts the application of this Convention. The Committee also requests the Government to specify the current contribution rate, as a percentage of gross earnings, payable by seafarers and shipowners to the pension scheme.

Article 4(1). Maintenance of rights in course of acquisition. The Committee notes that seafarers of foreign nationality are not excluded from the coverage of the compulsory general insurance system managed by the National Social Security Institute (INPS). The Committee requests the Government to provide more detailed information, including any legal texts not previously communicated to the Office, on any arrangements applicable to foreign seafarers, who cease to contribute to the general insurance system but who have not accumulated sufficient pensionable maritime service to receive a pension, seeking to ensure the maintenance of rights in course of acquisition or the payment to such persons of a benefit representing a return for the contributions credited to their account.

Part V of the report form. Practical application. The Committee requests the Government to provide up-to-date information on the manner in which the Convention is applied in practice, including, for instance, information concerning the number of seafarers covered by the pension schemes outlined in the Government’s report, data on percentage breakdown of financing of these schemes, copies of official publications such as annual reports of the INPS, extracts from reports of the administrative and judicial services entrusted with the application and enforcement of the relevant laws and regulations, and any difficulties encountered in the practical application of the Convention.