The labor decree approved by the Council of Ministers on Tuesday 28 April has an ambitious objective: all the expected contributions must lead to a net increase in employment, applying contracts signed by the comparatively most representative organizations on a national level. In essence, with the new provision of the Meloni government, the bonuses for hiring young people, women and in SEZ areas (the regions where companies have simplified administrative procedures and tax breaks) have been extended, as well as a new incentive for the transformation of contracts from fixed-term to permanent.
These incentives are valid for hiring until the end of the year and are aimed at long-term unemployed workers or those who have been unemployed for at least two years, with a change of pace compared to the current incentives for young people and SEZs, which expire today, Thursday 30 April. In total, 934 million are available for contributions, including those for stabilization. Of the total, 497.5 million are the resources allocated solely to incentives for young people, with the estimate of 52,400 hirings foreseen in the technical report of the decree.
Exemption up to 650 euros per month
Let’s go in order. For the permanent hiring of disadvantaged workers, exemption from the payment of 100% of social security contributions payable by employers up to 650 euros per month is recognized for a maximum period of twenty-four months. Amount that rises to 800 euros if resident in the SEZ regions. For those under 35 the ceiling is 500 euros per month, which rises to 650 euros in the regions of Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Sicily, Puglia, Calabria, Sardinia, Marche and Umbria. For all other hires in the Zes area the exemption is 650 euros per month.
These are not just temporary bonuses, because for hiring young people the apprenticeship option is almost always viable, and continues to represent one of the most used tools to contain the cost of youth work. The advantage arises both from the lower contribution rates and from the possibility of applying a lower classification than the final one, or of granting the worker a progressive salary, linked to the training path.
How is it going?
These benefits were created with the aim of giving impetus to youth employment, despite a job market which, overall, continues to show positive signs. In 2025 the average number of employed remained steadily above 24 million, with an increase of 185 thousand people. A growth which, however, has not rewarded the younger ones. According to Istat data, the expansion in employment was driven above all by the over 50s, who increased by 409 thousand units. In the same period, however, there was a drop of 109 thousand employed between the ages of 15 and 34 and of 115 thousand in the 35-49 age group. Also worsening the picture is the number of inactive under 35s, which has grown by 166 thousand units compared to 2024.
The other measures
Among the measures, social security contributions relief is also making its debut for companies that implement tools for reconciling work and family life, obtaining an ad hoc certification: there are up to 50 thousand euros per year for each company. Another new feature concerns riders: access to the digital platform can take place with Spid, electronic identity card (Cie), national services card (Cns) or with an account issued by the same platform with a multi-factor authentication system. The objective is to strengthen protections for cyclofactors and avoid “the proliferation of the use of an account”.
Calderone’s words
At the end of the Council of Ministers which approved the labor decree on the “fair wage”, the Minister of Labor and Social Policies, Marina Elvira Calderone explained: “I underline the spirit with which we arrived at a text which is the result of an extended discussion, made up of reflections and evaluations, which brings with it a significant financial allocation and a clear message: supporting work starting from the strengthening of quality collective bargaining”.
“The choice to link the incentives to the collective agreements signed by the comparatively most representative organisations, to which we refer to define the right salary, means valorising the contract and its guarantees”, added Calderone, focusing on the measures for the hiring of women, young people and in the SEZs. “It is a criterion that we will carry forward and that will also characterize the other interventions in support of work, of quality work. The choice made on the right salary represents careful listening to the requests of the employers’ and trade unions’ world, as well as real attention to the ongoing discussion phase between the organizations – he clarified -. It means having made important choices, based on expectation and qualification. I can say that the discussions are there and that the government is listening”. The minister then reiterated how the law on fair wages “protects everyone across the board”, highlighting the incentives intended for young people and women and “also looking at those over 35 years old and far from the world of work”.