Observatory Space Professions

Professional practices

A package of welfare benefits for employees and their families

The system aims to combine social protection, well-being and quality of employment

by Maria Carla De Cesari

26 November 2025

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3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

The collective labour agreement for professional practices is based on a comprehensive bilateral system: Cadiprof, for supplementary healthcare; Ebipro, a welfare scheme; Fondoprofessioni, the organisation promoted by the social partners which supports training, skills development and professional reskilling within professional firms.

It is an integrated system of benefits and safeguards ‘capable of combining social protection, well-being and quality of employment’, explains the Observatory on the Liberal Professions, Confprofessioni’s research body.

Healthcare services

Cadiprof is the main tool of supplementary healthcare for employees of professional practices (now also extended to their family members). Between 2017 and 2024, Cadiprof’s activities have expanded significantly, both in terms of the number of services provided and the financial resources allocated to reimbursements. The total volume of services rose from just over 200,000 procedures in 2017 to nearly 285,000 in 2024, representing a 37 per cent increase. Consultations and diagnostic tests lead the way, accounting for the lion’s share of expenditure as well, at 11.6 million. In total, Cadiprof’s expenditure rose from 14 million in 2017 to over 23 million in 2024 (+67 per cent). Among the family-focused initiatives, one innovative programme is dedicated to children, aimed at preventing and treating psychological vulnerabilities.

Employee and family welfare

Ebipro funds benefits and services aimed at improving the quality of work and the wellbeing of employees, focusing on social, training and family-related areas. The scope of its activities has gradually expanded: from the reimbursement of school books to the payment of university fees, and from contributions towards sporting activities to those for public transport. Thanks to the strengthening of bilateral relations, facilitated by the 2024 contract renewal, ‘the organisation,’ explains the Observatory on Liberal Professions, ‘has introduced three guarantees in addition to the existing ones: reimbursement for summer camps, an incentive to use parental leave for fathers and single parents, and a top-up to the INPS carer’s allowance received by family members with severe disabilities’. Between 2017 and 2024, the number of workers benefiting from these safeguards increased from just over 3,000 to nearly 30,000.

Training and reskilling

Finally, the contractual system provides employers and their employees with a ‘one-stop shop’ for training and professional reskilling. The scheme is Fondoprofessioni: the 0.30 contribution is already included as it is paid to INPS, so the employer simply needs to activate the option to access the services. Fondoprofessioni is aimed at professional practices but also counts micro-enterprises amongst its members, as its initiatives are tailored to the needs of small-scale businesses. 93 per cent of the organisations registered with the Fund employ between one and nine staff, and around 70 per cent have no more than three employees. However, there is a gradual trend towards greater organisation within firms and businesses.

“The Fund,” explains the research by the Observatory on the Liberal Professions, “operates in the area where the situation is most critical in terms of participation rates in continuing professional development programmes.” Membership of the Fund is on the rise and the majority of new members come from the pool of those who had not previously opted in, that is, those who had not registered with any organisation.

“With the growth in membership and the increase in the average size of practices, the Fund has seen a rise in the allocation of resources (0.30). The greater financial resources – explains the Observatory – have led to an increase in the grants allocated following the approval of training plans”.

Between 2021 and 2024, Fondoprofessioni approved over 19,700 training plans, allocating nearly 29 million. Year on year, there has been a steady increase in the grants awarded. ‘The type of call for proposals that has seen the greatest increase, in terms of funds allocated, is the single-company scheme. Furthermore – explains the Observatory – there has been a progressively growing share for one-to-one and small-group calls for proposals, which have proven to meet the needs of personalised training and the growing importance of on-the-job training”.