Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Italy (Ratification: 1966)

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2024, published 113rd ILC session (2025)

Article 2 of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the detailed information provided by the Government in its report. The National Plan for Social Interventions and Services 2021–23 (PNISS) incorporates the National Social Plan 2021–23 and the Plan to Combat Poverty 2021–23 discussed and approved in July 2021 by the Network for Social Protection and Inclusion, chaired by the Minister of Labour and Social Policy. The Government explains that the PNISS identifies priorities for the National Fund for Social Policies (FNPS) and its planning, distinguishing between more wide-ranging systemic actions and interventions focused on younger people. The National Child Guarantee Implementation Plan (PANGI) implements the Council of Europe’s recommendation of 14 June 2021, establishing a European Child Guarantee. The Government further refers to Mission 5 “Inclusion and Cohesion” of the National Recovery Plan (PNRR), whose component “Social infrastructures, family, community, and the tertiary sector” comprises three key “investments”: support for the vulnerable, models for the independence of persons with disabilities, and temporary housing and hostels. Moreover, the measures adopted to combat poverty include: (i) the Citizenship Income (RdC) adopted by Law No. 26 of 28 March 2019 and then superseded by Decree Law No. 48 of 4 May 2023; (ii) the Inclusion Allowance introduced by Law No. 85 of 3 July 2023, and (iii) subsidies for financially disadvantaged families on electric, gas, water waste management services, granted by various regulations. The measures adopted in favour of persons with disabilities include: the National fund for dependent persons (FNA) adopted by Law No. 296 of 27 December 2006 and increased by subsequent regulations; the Fund for persons with severe disabilities and no family support, established by Law No. 112 of 22 June 2016; the National Recovery Plan (PNRR), which allocates resources to lines of action for persons with disabilities and dependent seniors; Law No. 33 of 23 March 2023, Government powers for policies to support seniors. The Government has also provided information in connection with migrant workers, workers’ pay and associated questions, equality of opportunities and non-discrimination and education and training. The BES (“Benessere Equo e Sostenibile” or Fair and Sustainable Well-being) was introduced as a statistical tool to survey the well-being and living standards of the population, introduced by Law No. 163 of 4 August 2016.

In addition, the Committee notes that, in the framework of the periodic review of Italy’s record on human rights in 2022, the UN Committee on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights expressed concerns about the considerable proportion of workers in the informal economy, the inadequate coverage of such workers by labour and social protection laws and living and working conditions; occupational health hazards, exposure to pollution and exploitative practices by employers in the agriculture, construction, and garment and textile industries, especially against migrant workers; the persistently high rates of poverty, which in some areas have increased in recent years, especially in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic; and the high rate of child poverty, the disproportionately high level of absolute poverty among non-nationals, and the regional disparities in the prevalence of poverty (see document E/C.12/ITA/CO/6, of 7 December 2022, paragraphs 37, 38, and 43).

The Committee takes due note of the Government’s efforts to address the numerous challenges associated to improving the standard of living of the population by, inter alia, adopting comprehensive policies aimed at promoting inclusive economic growth, enhancing social protection and creating opportunities for all segments of the population. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on social policy programmes and other initiatives intended to ensure that the improvement of standards of living is regarded as the principal objective in the planning of economic development in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention, as well as the impact of such measures. In particular, the Committee asks the Government to indicate the types of measures that are primarily directed to the well-being and development of the population and to the promotion social progress (Article 1 of the Convention), including by indicating the Government’s vision and strategy for fostering transitions from the informal to the formal economy and improving productivity and the standard of living of the entire population. The Government is also requested to indicate the manner in which, in ascertaining the minimum standards of living, it takes account of such essential family needs of the workers as food and its nutritive value, housing, clothing, medical care and education (Article 5). The Committee also requests the Government to continue to provide updated detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by sex, age and region, on the impact of the reforms on the well-being of the population and the improvement of living standards in the country, particularly the levels of poverty.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2014, published 104th ILC session (2015)

Article 2 of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the Government’s report received in November 2013 which includes information in reply to its 2009 direct request. The Committee notes the reduction of resources made available to the National Fund for Social Policies (FNPS) in 2010, when compared to 2008 and 2009 figures. Resources continued to decrease in 2011 and 2012, increasing however in 2013. The Government indicates that reductions occurred partly as a result of regulatory action and changes to the functions of the FNPS. It adds that there are regional differences as the share of social expenditure financed through state resources was lower in northern regions while it increased in most southern regions. In its report, the Government refers to article 117(2)(m) of the Italian Constitution which provides that the central government has exclusive legislative powers in the determination of the essential levels of benefits relating to civil and social entitlements to be guaranteed throughout the national territory.

Furthermore, the Committee notes that the Government introduced a Social Card in 2008 to financially help persons over 65 as well as struggling families who have a child under the age of 3. The beneficiaries of the Social Card are vulnerable groups of the population in particular need, that is, people living in absolute poverty. In 2012, a new Social Card was launched which is granted to beneficiaries adhering to a personalized programme. This experimental measure to combat absolute poverty in selected cities benefitted from a budget of €50 million for a 12-month period. The Committee invites the Government to provide updated information on the impact of the plans and programmes adopted, at the national and regional level, with regard to the “improvement of standards of living”, thereby reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion.

Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2009, published 99th ILC session (2010)

Article 2. Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes the information contained in the Government’s report received in January 2009 as well as the comments submitted by the Italian General Confederation of Labour (CGIL), which were forwarded to the Government in July 2009. The Government refers to the Green Paper on the future of the social model published in July 2008. The new welfare system envisaged under the Green Paper will place the focus on anticipating needs and on ensuring personalized protection measures over a person’s entire life span, thus contributing toward improving the quality of life of individuals, but also contemplating proactive conduct and responsibility on the part of the persons benefiting from those measures. The Committee notes the key role attributed under the new system for social services to the regions in the development and financing of social plans based on resources made available under the National Fund for Social Policies (FNSP). The Committee invites the Government to continue providing information in its next report so as to enable the Committee to satisfy itself that the “improvement of standards of living” is the principal objective of government programmes for economic growth and social inclusion (Article 2).

Part III. Migrant workers. The Committee notes that the issues raised by the CGIL in its comments mainly concern the situation of undocumented migrant workers in Italy, whereas Part III of the Convention concerns migration movements within the country. In this respect, the Committee refers to the comments concerning the Migrant Workers (Supplementary Provisions) Convention, 1975 (No. 143).