Italy PEO Services

Global PEO Services (GPS) helps companies hire employees in Italy without establishing a legal entity. All human resources, benefits, payroll, and tax needs for the employees are managed by the Global PEO, while the new hires and headquarter teams focus on your business goals.

When hiring employees in Italy, establishing a subsidiary or branch office is not always the best route, as it’s often a lengthy and expensive process. Hiring via a Professional Employer Organization (PEO), or Employer of Record (EOR), is a faster and often more effective option – especially when starting up in a new country.

Global PEO Services hires the employees on your behalf, legally contracting them through our subsidiary in accordance with Italy labor laws. As a result, the burden of compliance is on us and the employees can begin work for your company in a matter of days. PEOs/EORs provide you with a streamlined option for hiring employees, testing markets, and responding to growing business needs in Italy. With Global PEO Services, you get control without taking on legal entity liabilities, contractor risks, or sacrificing on talent or speed to market.

It is permissible under Italian labor law to draw up permanent employment contracts in writing, but it is not required. 

Some of the details typically mentioned in the written contract include: 

• The start date, length of the employment relationship, and the type of employment relationship 
• Duration and conditions of the notice period 
• and more 

The different types of employment relationships are: 

• Permanent Employment – Unless specified in the employment contract, employment in Italy is deemed indefinite. 
• Fixed-Term Contracts – Per Italian law, fixed-term contracts should not exceed 24 months, including renewal. Employers can renew fixed-term agreements up to 4 times as long as the total length does not exceed 24 months. The contract becomes permanent after five renewals. 
• Temporary Employment – The term “temporary employment” is not defined explicitly in Italian labor law. It does, however, provide for a variety of flexible work arrangements, including:  
  • Fixed-term work  
  • Intermittent work 
  • Solidarity contracts 
  • Apprenticeships 

Probationary Period 

In Italy, a probationary period lasts up to 6 months for managerial employees, and for all other employees, it could last up to 3 months. However, the maximum probationary term may vary depending on the industry or the relevant collective bargaining agreement. 

Leaves 

Employees in Italy are entitled to the following leaves: 

• Annual leave– Per Italian labor law, employees are usually entitled to at least four weeks of paid annual leave. 
• Maternity leave – Italy’s female workers are typically entitled to at least 20 weeks of paid leave under Italian labor legislation. It is usually divided into eight weeks before birth and 12 weeks following birth, with the latter two being variable. 
• Sick leave – Employees in Italy are generally entitled to three days of paid sick leave per year. The National Institute for Social Security reimburses employers for providing a statutory sick benefit to their employees (INPS). 
• Paternity leave – Per the Italian labor law, fathers continue to be absent from work for the duration of the maternity leave. 

Public Holidays 

The following are the statutory national holidays observed in Italy: 

• January 1 – New Year’s Day 
• January 6 – Epiphany 
• April 4 – Easter Sunday 
• April 5 – Easter Monday 
• April 25 – Liberation Day 
• May 1 – Labor Day / May Day 
• June 2 – Republic Day 
• August 15 – Assumption of Mary 
• November 1 – All Saints’ Day 
• December 8 – Feast of the Immaculate Conception 
• December 25 – Christmas Day 
• December 26 – St. Stephen’s Day 

Italy is part of the Schengen Borders Agreement, together with 25 other European countries. 

Foreigners with a Schengen sojourn permit from another Schengen country do not require a visa for stays of less than three months if they are not coming to work or study. 

There are typically three categories of visas issued by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation: 

• Uniform Schengen Visas (USV)– Uniform Schengen Visas are type C visas (short-stay or travel visas) valid for up to 90 days and single or multiple entries into all Schengen countries. 
• Limited Territorial Validity Visas (LTV) – Limited Territorial Validity Visas are only valid in the Schengen country from which they were issued and are valid for humanitarian or national interest purposes. 
• Long Sojourn or National Visas (NV) – Long Sojourn or National Visas are type D visas valid for stays longer than 90 days for single or multiple entries. 

Different immigration rules apply to foreign workers of various nationalities. For example, the European Union (EU) and the European Economic Area (EEA) nationals can work in Italy without a work permit. However, before entering Italy, foreign nationals from non-EU/EEA countries must typically have a valid work permit from their Italian employer and obtain a work visa from the Consulate of Italy in their country of residence.