Accompany the major changes in the world of work by promoting a new participatory and inclusive model of industrial relations. This was the theme at the center of the meeting “Building the work to come together”, held today at the national headquarters of CNEL in Rome, during which the project “Transformation Hub”, a unique initiative in Italy, born from the agreement between General and the trade union organizations, with the scientific collaboration ofLuiss University.
During the event, the activities of the “Hubs“, the three joint commissions born from the Supplementary Contract signed by Generali with FIRST/CISL, FISAC CGIL, UILCA, FNA and SNFIA, an agreement already recognized by CNEL as “Good Business Practice” for having anticipated the contents of the new legislation on worker participation in the management, capital and profits of companies. The Hub, supported by the scientific contribution of Luissfocus the comparison on three key directions: Artificial Intelligence and work organization models, sustainability and implementation of ESG models in the company, demography, active aging and skills management.
The University named after Guido Carli coordinates the three-year work plan of the project through a methodology that combines applied research, impact analysis, joint training courses for managers and unions and policy and governance workshops. A path that is already operational: during the meeting, the results of the first start-up phase were also shared – which between April and May 2026 saw the holding of four work sessions led by Luiss teachers with around 50 company and trade union representatives – with the aim of translating them into research objectives to support the evolution of work organisation.
The appointment – opened by greetings from the President of CNEL Renato Brunettaof the CEO of Generali Philippe Donnet (who spoke with a video message), and the President of Luiss Giorgio Fossa – saw the participation of the Country General Manager of Generali Italia Gianluca Perinby the President of the CNEL Participation Commission Emanuele Massagli and the General Director Luiss Rita Carisano. The works, moderated by Francesco Giorginocontinued with an analysis of individual hubs led by Maria Cristina MugliaHead of General Trade Union Relations, together with Luiss teachers Giuseppe Italiano, Matteo Caroli And Maria Rita Testa and trade union representatives Emanuele Bartolucci, Laura Delù and Claudia Zanellito conclude with the speech of the Professor Emeritus of Sapienza Arturo Maresca.
“For too long, our production system has looked at worker participation with distrust, as a cost or as a constraint on the company’s autonomy. The time has come to change perspective and adopt the “participatory paradigm”, which transforms what was perceived as a burden into an investment in productivity, skills, merit and quality of work. Bringing together capital and work, knowledge and responsibility means creating value for the company and strengthening its competitive capacity”, stated the president of CNEL, Renato Brunetta. “Law No. 76 of 2025 – continued Brunetta – finally offers the tools to implement article 46 of the Constitution and entrusts a central role to the National Council of Economy and Labor, establishing within it the permanent national commission for workers’ participation. The CNEL, home of the intermediate bodies, is therefore called to accompany this transition, enhancing the good practices that are already developing in companies. The CNEL Label awarded to Generali, among the first to be awarded, and the Transformation Hub model demonstrate that participation can already become reality. Our task is to make it grow and spread it, so that the intelligence of work enters into the company’s choices. Thus innovation becomes economic and social progress.”
“The collaboration with Generali presented today at the CNEL represents a truly unicum and demonstrates Luiss’s ability to act as a strategic bridge between advanced scientific research, businesses and the world of work” – he commented Giorgio FossaPresident of the Luiss Guido Carli University, who added – “Today’s discussion highlighted how global transitions also push towards a modernization of industrial relations where skills and participation are at the centre. In this project with Generali, Luiss has made all its scientific excellence available to test a model which I believe will be exportable to other companies”.
“Presenting the Transformation Hubs today in the authoritative headquarters of the CNEL represents an important moment in a path that arises from the belief that major changes must be understood and governed through dialogue and participation.” He stated Gianluca PerinCountry General Manager of Generali Italia. “As Generali, with this project, we have chosen to bring together business, trade union organizations and the academic world around the same table to address issues that are redefining work and society: from artificial intelligence to social sustainability up to demographic change. The collaboration with the Luiss Guido Carli University is a central element of this model, because it allows us to combine the discussion between the parties with the rigor of research and a long-term vision. The ambition of the Transformation Hubs is to contribute to building a culture of participation capable of anticipating transformations and generate value for people, businesses and the country.”