Italy: Confesercenti also signs agreement for the renewal of the labour contract

After lengthy negotiations, even the tourism associations affiliated with Confesercenti (Assoturismo, Fiepet, Assohotel, Assoviaggi, Assocamping, Fiba) and the sector trade unions Filcams-Cgil, Fisascat-Cisl and Uiltucs-Uil have reached an agreement on the proposed renewal of the national contract (CCNL) for tourism company employees. It should be noted that in early July, Federalberghi and FAITA-FederCamping signed the agreement for the renewal of the CCNLfor employees in the accommodation sector, and Fipe for the restaurant industry.

The agreement just signed by the associations affiliated with Confesercenti covers the entire tourism sector (public establishments, beach resorts, hotels, campsites, and travel agencies), affecting over 1.2 million workers. The new regulation will be effective from July 1st, 2024, and will remain in force until December 31st, 2027.

Structurally, the new contract is presented as a Unified Contract, just as it was established during the previous renewal in 2018. It is thus divided into a general part and three specific parts that deal in more detail with the different segments of public establishments and beach resorts (represented by Fiepet and Fiba Confesercenti); hotels and campsites (Assohotel and Assocamping Confesercenti); travel agencies (Assoviaggi Confesercenti).

The choice of the Unified Contract is explained by the desire to streamline the number of collective agreements, provide a unified response to the sector’s needs, and curb the phenomenon of pirate contracts and contractual dumping.

Regarding the content, there are many significant new features in the new contract: first and foremost, a salary increase of €200 has been determined for everyone, at the IV level when fully operational, but with different dates and tranches, as more attention was given to the more struggling sectors, such as canteens and travel agencies.

Other provisions include strengthening contractual welfare, particularly supplementary health care, enhancing fixed-term contracts for hotels and campsites, which can be extended for major events beyond 12 months, and greater protections in terms of equal opportunities, gender-based violence, and parenthood. The treatments due to parents during mandatory and optional leave periods have been reformulated, with positive effects on the extra salary (13^th and 14th monthly pay), holidays, and permits.

The agreement also emphasizes the sensitive issue of health and safety in the workplace, prescribing the establishment of a national joint committee by the end of 2024 to discuss these issues and identify the best solutions for the tourism sector.