In the food sector, a new contract arrives for the 100,000 artisan bakers. The contract, which expired at the end of 2018, was renewed after a long and complex negotiation, also thanks to the health emergency. It was signed by Confartigianato, Cna, Casa and Claai for the employer side and Fai Cisl, Flai Cgil, Uila Uil for the workers’ representatives. The new contract, which will cover the period 2019-2022, affects about 30 thousand companies and more than 100 thousand male and female workers. The agreement, according to what the unions explain in a note, provides for “an economic increase of 4.7% equal to 77 euros when fully operational for the 3A level for the food sector and 74 euros for the A2 level of the bakery sector, which they will be paid starting from 1 November 2021. To fully cover the contractual holiday period, a lump sum ‘one-off’ amount of 140 euros will also be paid for both sectors “.
Numerous regulatory changes, including the relaunch of the sector Observatory which is also entrusted with the monitoring of second-level bargaining, territorial and district agreements. Furthermore, the paid hours for continuous training increase from 32 to 40, in addition to the possibility of using the 150 hours recognized in the context of the right to education, also for Italian language courses for foreign workers. On the welfare side, the possibility has been provided for the working mother and single-foster father to request an extension of the period of exemption from night work for six months, starting from the third year of the child. Again in support of parenting, the agreement provides for the right to obtain an advance of the severance pay at the rate of 30% in periods of optional abstention from work for maternity or paternity, but also the introduction of forms of flexibility in the time of entry and exit for parents with children up to three years of age and for those engaged in kindergarten placement.