Insights

On March 6 the first two implementing decrees of the Jobs Act approved last Friday 20 February 2015 have been published on the Italian Official Journal (“Gazzetta Ufficiale”) and they are in force starting from March 7. They involve long-term employment contracts with increased protection based on seniority and an overhaul of laws regarding social shock absorbers in the cases of dismissal.

The first two implementing decrees of the Jobs Acts, the one on contracts with increased protection based on seniority and the one for overhaul of social shock absorbers, were published in the Official Gazette of 6 March this month, becoming effective 7 March 2015.

Starting in May 2015 13 weeks of contributions paid in the four years prior to unemployment will be sufficient for obtaining the new unemployment benefit called NASpI.

The draft of the Legislative Decree overhauling contracts examined last 20 February by the Council of Ministers would result in some significant changes in policies for reconciling free time and work.

When the decree becomes effective the rules for long-term hiring and dismissal will change substantially.