|
|
Working in Italy
 |
|
The Coliseum, Rome |
|
|
All EEA nationals (nationals from the EU, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein)
are entitled to freely seek and take up work in Italy.
|
 |
The only requirement an EEA national has to meet is registering with the local police for a work permit
(permesso di soggiorno per lavoro) within 7 days of arrival and a residence permit (permesso de soggiorno).
The main police station in Rome has a special department that can help foreigners do this easily and has
staff who speak other European languages. A candidate must also register for a tax number.
If you fall outside this category the process can be a very long one. Firstly many documents need to be
collected and submitted with the application for a work permit, which in turn is processed by a highly
bureaucratic system.
As with most European countries Italy allows European based service providers to work on Italian client
projects. The candidate must remain solely in the employment of the foreign company, with the work not
going beyond the normal business of the service provider - for example the installation of software
bought outside Italy. A visa needs to be applied for at a local embassy or consulate, although the
process shouldn't take too long. This agreement applies to all countries participating in the Schengen
agreement (Austria, Belgium France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxemburg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain).
A new agreement (Van der Elst) covers the same criteria and the entire European Economic Area, although
Italy has not yet joined, but should follow its EU counterparts by joining soon.
There are many visas that allow foreigners to work in Italy. All of which must be applied for through a
local visa office in an Italian embassy or consulate.
What you'll need for the application
- Passport, valid for at least 6 months after the end of the stay in Italy.
- Completed and signed application form.
- 1 passport photo.
- Original contract of employment signed and notarised by employer and candidate.
- Affidavit from the company (or a legal representative) stamped by the Labour Department stating
that the contract will not later be changed to a subordinate work contract.
- For those starting up a business, all the necessary authorization, including registration with the
Chamber of Commerce in Italy, a local city hall license and registration at the professional register.
- An original certificate or letter showing medical insurance cover for the stay.
What to expect once you're there
Italy's main industries are split between the heavy (steel, car manufacturing, engineering and chemicals)
and the luxury goods market, with fashion and food playing a vital role. Much of this is located in the
prosperous north and some areas in the south see high unemployment. The Government is very protective of
their work force, and most positions available to foreigners are for professional posts with large
companies with an international presence or for casual seasonal work.
Teaching English is very popular with foreigners and many are encouraged to work without a contract and
the obvious benefits and protection one would offer. It can be very difficult to obtain a written
contract from many firms with the exception of the very largest. Employment legislation is very thorough
and with contractual protection many benefits are afforded to workers.
A 40 hour week is standard in Italy. Working overtime (paid!) may be
required, especially for employees working in the service industry
or new economy jobs. Salaries are good: top management executives earn from
?60,000 to ?150.000 USD (minus about 50% in taxes), middle management employees
take home between ?30,000 and ?60,000 USD (minus about 40% in taxes), while
lower management pocket ?18,000 to ?30,000 USD (minus about 30% in taxes).
Italian employees do not receive a gross salary out of which they would pay
taxes: employers already deduct state taxes out of all paychecks.
Salaries are always paid in more than 12 instalments, usually in 13 or 14 instalments
or sometimes even in 16 instalments over the year. If salaries are paid in 13 instalments,
employees may receive two paychecks in December (good news for Christmas shoppers!),
if they are paid in 14 instalments, they may receive an additional paycheck
in June and December. After tax deduction, those
"double" paychecks amount to about 90% of an original paycheck.
Income tax ranges from 10% and 65%, but a 65% tax rate is very rare.
Workers receive a minimum of 4 weeks of paid holiday,
although many receive up to 6 weeks. Usually, employees are granted two vacation days per month,
amounting to 24 holidays per annum. If employees do not use all of their vacation days
by the end of the year, they may carry them over to the following year. Companies may decide to cancel
part of their employees' yearly vacation, but in that case they have to pay their employees for those days
in addition to an overtime salary. Also, employees are granted the opportunity to work 40 "free",
partly paid, partly unpaid hours per year. Finally, there are also a further 10 days of public holiday,
with additional half day holidays and feast days for local patron saints.
Employees receive many fringe benefits, and employers often assist
with housing, transport, canteens and children's nurseries. Canteens are quite common in Italy.
If a company does not have one, it may offer tax free "lunch vouchers"
which can be redeemed in restaurants. Housing allowances are rather uncommon: they are usually only
granted to top managers. Unfortunately, Italy does not have very many children's nurseries yet.
Most of these benefits are arranged through
negotiation with workers' representatives, in the case of smaller companies, a consortia works
to protect workers' rights. Some benefits may be reduced as the Government endeavours to make changes across
the welfare sector. National health care is free for everyone, so companies do not have to offer employees
health insurance plans. Retirement programs are currently being discussed by the Italian government.
Living conditions in the north are on a par with most rich northern European countries, but on the
down side, the cost of living is very high in the northern parts of Italy. Conditions in the
south can be poorer, however, most cities offer all a foreign worker could want with the benefit of
good food, culture and beautiful surroundings. Best of all, the cost of living in the south
is 30% to 40% less than in northern Italy.
Photo: Central Audiovisual Library, European Commission
|
|
|
|
|
Specials
|
My jobpilot
post your resume - and your job will find you!
international jobs
you want to work abroad? Letīs see what you can find in your dream country!
|
|
 |
 |
Career Journal
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
