Italy’s center-right coalition has withdrawn a controversial labor amendment in its sweeping economic decree following fierce opposition criticism, marking a setback for its junior coalition partner, the League. The withdrawn measure, concerning fixed-term agency contracts, was formally retracted in the Senate after government representatives presented it. Relations with Parliament Minister Luca Ciriani (Brothers of Italy) stated only that “the Labor Ministry will find another path.”
However, the coalition retained a separate amendment extending the mandate of the company managing infrastructure for the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympics until 2033. This partial retreat follows opposition uproar over the labor clause and prior controversy regarding the Olympics extension, initially proposed by the League in another bill before being shifted to the broader economic package – a move deemed more appropriate by the government.
The withdrawn labor amendment, officially proposed by majority rapporteurs Dario Damiani (Forza Italia), Livia Mennuni (Brothers of Italy), and Elena Testori (League), caused immediate fury among opposition parties, who demanded its retraction. Reports indicate the League, particularly Labor Undersecretary Claudio Durigon, strongly pushed for the clause. Minister Ciriani had earlier signaled the majority’s openness to “find an agreement” with the opposition.
Government sources now suggest the measure could be reintroduced in a separate, more targeted bill after the summer recess, avoiding haste. The amendment proposed allowing temporary agency workers to be assigned to a user company for up to four years: three years for same-level tasks, extendable to four for first-time assignments. After this period, permanent hiring would be mandatory. Opposition figures denounced it as effectively deregulating temporary work retroactively.
“This is effectively a mini-reform of agency work, applied retroactively,” attacked PD Senator Daniele Manca. “It does nothing but increase job insecurity, creating more poor and less secure work.” Former CISL union leader and Italia Viva Senator Annamaria Furlan warned it risked enabling “masked dismissals” by allowing transfers to inconvenient locations without guarantees. “It’s a gift to large groups who can exert undue pressure on employees,” she concluded.
The surviving Olympics amendment, extending SIMICO’s mandate, also drew fire. PD Senator Cecilia D’Elia accused the right of “trying again under Salvini’s League blackmail… they shed the fur but not the vice of ‘seat-grabbing’ at all costs.” Minister Ciriani confirmed cross-coalition agreement to keep this clause, stating it was moved from the sports decree to the economic package for greater coherence.
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