Report assesses continuing vocational training policy

After a slow start, intersectoral vocational training funds, set up four years ago, have now become fully operational. This is highlighted in the 2005 Report on continuing training in Italy_, presented by the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and Isfol in February 2006._

In February 2006, the Italian Ministry of Labour and Social Policies presented the 2005 Report on continuing training in Italy, prepared by the Institute for the Development of Vocational Training (Istituto per la Formazione Professionale dei Lavoratori, Isfol).

Good quality work – as the report’s introduction emphasises – is vital for long-term economic performance, as it fosters innovation, extends working life, increases the participation rate in the labour market and favours sustained wage dynamics.

However, the data available show that Italy has a lower educational level than average in the OECD countries, and that a limited number of workers engage in lifelong learning, compared with the rest of Europe. Only 20% of Italian workers take part in training activities, compared to a European average of about 40% of workers; and only 25% of companies offer training, while the European average is 60% of companies.

The delay in implementing effective training policies is caused by structural characteristics of Italy’s national production model and by reluctance to invest in training. The report warns that, in the long run, Italy risks becoming a country with low-qualified workers, leading to a production model of low innovation, and obsolete and unproductive activities.

Policy on continuing training

The report profiles the Italian continuing training system and analyses public policy in relation to vocational training. The training system is mainly developed along three lines of intervention: the European Social Fund, the national laws on continuing training (236/93 and 53/00), and the intersectoral continuing vocational training funds established by the social partners (IT0202103f).

The intersectoral continuing vocational training funds represent the main innovation of the Italian training system and it is planned that they will absorb the majority of resources available. These funds are financed by an obligatory contribution paid by employers (0.3% of workers’ gross wages), and by an initial investment contribution from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

The funds allocate money for local, sectoral and company training plans – in some cases also for individuals – subsequent to the training plans being positively assessed by the evaluation body.

At present, some 11 intersectoral continuing vocational training funds are in operation, established by the social partners (employer and trade union organisations) and authorised by the Ministry of Labour:

• the fund for workers in cooperative enterprises (Fondo per la formazione continua nelle imprese cooperative, Fon.Coop);

• the fund for workers in tertiary enterprises, covering workers in commerce, distribution and services (Fondo per la formazione continua terziario, Fon.Ter);

• the fund for workers in religious associations, cooperatives and enterprises (Fondo per la formazione continua degli enti ecclesiastici, associazioni, fondazioni, cooperative, aziende di ispirazione religiosa, Fond.ER);

• the fund for workers in industrial enterprises linked to the Confindustria employer organisation (Fondo per la formazione continua delle imprese associate a Confindustria, Fondimpresa);

• the fund for managers in the tertiary sector (Fondo per la formazione continua dei dirigenti del terziario, Fondir);

• the fund for company managers (Fondo per la formazione continua dei dirigenti delle aziende, Fondirigenti);

• the fund for workers in arts and crafts (Fondo per la formazione continua nelle imprese artigiane, Fondartigianato);

• the fund for managers in small and medium-sized enterprises (Fondo dirigenti Pmi);

• the fund for workers in small and medium-sized enterprises (Fondo formazione PMI, Fapi);

• the fund for professional studies (Fondo per la formazione continua negli studi professionali e nelle aziende ad essi collegate, Fondoprofessioni);

• the fund for workers in tertiary enterprises, covering workers in commerce, insurance, transport and banking (Fondo per la formazione continua nel terziario, For.te).

There is also the fund for workers in temporary agencies (Fondo per la formazione continua delle agenzie di somministrazione, Forma.Temp), which is a collectively agreed fund.

Training activity

All of the funds are currently in operation, with the exception of Fond.ER, which was only established in June 2005. report reveals that about 242,000 workers (4.89% of all workers) and 8,686 companies (2.39% of all companies) have taken part in training financed by the funds since their establishment. Out of the companies that have received funds for training, 15% employ more than 500 workers, while 10% have between 250 and 499 employees; at the other end of the scale, 15% employ less than nine workers, and 30% have between 10 and 49 employees. The majority of those who benefited from training are aged between 35 and 44 years (50%), while workers aged over 45 years form a small minority (5.7%). The report records an equal participation in training between the sexes.

Geographical and sectoral breakdown

The report highlights that there is an uneven geographical distribution of funding: less than 20% of the take-up has been recorded in the southern Mezzogiorno area, while more than 60% of applications have been made in northern regions such as Emilia Romagna.

Now that the funds are in place, the social partners must address the issue of widening the level of participation in specific geographical areas, as well as in specific sectors that show little interest in training, such as, for example, the textiles and leather (particularly shoe) sector.

This regional and sectoral discrepancy reflects the imbalance in Italy’s national production model, as underlined by the Italian Confederation of Labour Unions (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori, Cisl) Confederate Secretary, Raffaele Bonanni. According to Mr Bonanni, increasing the number of workers involved in continuing training is essential in order to address this imbalance, and the confederation is engaged in this effort together with the joint bodies: ‘If the funds manage to fulfil their mandate, continuing training will become a lever to overcome these problems and contribute to relaunching Italy’s economic and social unity.’

Certification of competences

Another issue highlighted by the report concerns the value and the recognition of training activities, which must be ‘delivered with a view to the certification of professional competences, agreed among the partners involved and validated at national level’. In short, the funds should strive towards a ‘qualitative and quantitative increase in training levels’.

Marta Santi, Cesos