In February 2003, an agreement was signed by management and trade unions at the Nestlé plant in Perugia, Italy, which deals with the employment consequences of a restructuring plan. Nearly 200 workers will leave the company, with financial assistance, while the employment of part-time and seasonal
On 21 March 2003, the three main Italian trade union confederations - Cgil, Cisl and Uil - organised a two-hour general strike in protest against the war in Iraq.
Following the announcement of job losses by the Italian subsidiaries of the Marconi telecommunications group, in March 2003 an agreement was concluded by management and trade unions which cuts the number of planned redundancies from 1,100 to 430. A number of measures will be used to cushion the job
In February 2003, Article 51 of the Italian Constitution was amended so as to enable measures to promote a balanced gender participation in public offices and elected positions. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour organised a major conference on women and the labour market. Gender issues have thus
On 21 February 2003, the Cgil trade union confederation held a general strike against the responses of the government and employers to the current problems of Italian industry. Estimates of the level of participation in the strike - which was not supported by the other main union confederations -
In February 2003, after a lengthy and controversial legislative and negotiating process, the Italian parliament approved a 'proxy law' on reform of the labour market. The reforms relate to areas such as job placement services, new forms of employment contract and part-time work. The government plans
On 26 February 2003, the Confindustria employers' confederation and the Italy's three main trade union confederations (Cgil, Cisl and Uil) launched a dialogue aimed at tackling the problems facing Italian industry - the first such bilateral negotiations for 10 years. Dialogue will continue at four
In January 2003, the Italian government approved a reform of the company law rules governing limited liability and joint-stock companies and cooperatives, which will come into force in 2004. Employers have generally welcomed the reform, while trade unions view it as a missed opportunity to enhance
Italy's Cgil trade union confederation has called a four-hour general strike for 21 February 2003, in protest against the policies of the government and employers, which it sees as contributing to the decline of Italian industry. The other two main union confederations, Cisl and Uil, did not join
In January 2003, an innovative agreement on reconciling work and private life was signed in Milan by local trade union organisations and the Apimilano association of small and medium-sized employers. The accord provide for a number of projects in this area, notably aimed at helping working parents.