More than a year since the issue of the stimulus package under Law Decree 78/2009 (Law 102/2009), the rules have been defined for fully implementing the job saving legislation. The agencies issuing the clarification were INPS, with message no. 20810/2010 regarding the contribution aspects, and INAIL, with note issued on 2 July 2010, concerning computation of the insurance premium. The inter-ministerial Work-Economy Decree dated 18 December 2009 set forth that workers who were receiving income supplements with job preservation benefits (wages guarantee fund, extraordinary wages guarantee fund, wages guarantee fund in exception, and solidarity contracts) can be involved by employers in training or professional redevelopment projects. This brings dual benefits – the company can take advantage of the periods of “work stoppage” by involving laid off employees in training activities; workers earn a bonus, paid by the employer, which covers the difference between the salary supplements and the compensation that would have been paid under normal production activity. The condition to access these benefits is stipulating a specific trade union agreement.
(Il Sole 24 Ore)