Job

Chemicals and pharmaceuticals, contract renewed with EUR 294 increase

Federchimica, Farmindustria and the trade unions have reached an agreement for the three-year period 2025-2028 covering 180 thousand workers

15 April 2025

4' min read

The 180,000 pharmaceutical chemical workers will receive a total economic increase of EUR 294 for the period of the contract (from July 2025 to June 2028), after Federchimica, Farmindustria, Filctem, Femca, Uiltec, and Ugl Chimiche signed the hypothesis of agreement for the renewal of the sector's labour contract, which will now have to be voted on by the workers' assemblies.

Innovative Understanding

The agreement was reached well in advance of the expiry of the contract (30 June), thanks to the historical collaborative, participative and modern industrial relations of the sector, which, with this renewal, has condemned the use of so-called pirate contracts as instruments of unfair competition. The renewal gives companies and workers the tools to govern transitions and major processes of technological, environmental and social change. "Once again, the national labour contract of the chemical-pharmaceutical sectors confirms its propensity to innovation, identifying guidelines in the area of skills and Artificial Intelligence," commented the general secretaries of Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl, Uiltec Uil, Marco Falcinelli, Nora Garofalo, and Daniela Piras, who managed to obtain a renewal in line with what was requested in the platform.

The Rise

In fact, for the economic part, workers have been granted an increase in their total remuneration of EUR 294 for the entire duration of the contract, including the advance agreed in the January 2024 agreement. According to a trade union calculation, this means that the contract amount will average EUR 6,615. The model for checking inflationary deviations is also confirmed, with the role of EDR as a compensatory element.

The Ai Guidelines

For the regulatory part, with reference to the objectives of cultural enhancement, the following were introduced

sectoral guidelines on the use of Artificial Intelligence, useful elements for training programmes and projects on e-skills and eco-skills, sectoral guidelines for the promotion of diversity and inclusion, and guidelines for combating harassment and violence in the workplace.

The formation

Allowances for tertiary education pathways (ITS Academy, Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees) and a commitment to work together to ensure skills certification based on transparent criteria have also been strengthened. Protections in the event of workers' illness and work-life balance have also been increased. Finally, contractual provisions and commitments have been strengthened to spread the safety culture at all levels, including outside the workplace, with greater involvement of safety figures at company level.

The enterprises

For Francesco Buzzella, President of Federchimica, 'this agreement, reached in a context of conflicts, digital and ecological transformations, and new scenarios of world order, punctually responds to the needs of companies and workers. The climate of uncertainty that accompanies the challenges for the competitiveness of our industry has not slowed down the dialogue between the social partners; on the contrary, strengthened by the heritage of our industrial relations culture inspired by participation and social responsibility, we have identified pragmatic and innovative solutions with a rapid and balanced contractual renewal that can safeguard companies and workers in a spirit of cohesion of all parties involved'. Bernardo Sestini, Federchimica Vice President in charge of Industrial Relations, adds that 'the agreement reached implements the dissemination of a culture of consolidated sectoral industrial relations capable of sustaining and developing productivity, competitiveness, employment, safety, inclusion and social responsibility while guaranteeing social peace. This approach is intended to participate in strengthening a strategic sector for sustainable development, to support European and Italian competitiveness in the global context, and to contribute to the economic, social and cultural growth of the country'.

Marcello Cattani, President of Farmindustria, says that 'the renewal of the CCNL is a concrete and responsible act for companies and workers. At a complex time, also characterised by the speed of major transformations, the definition of an agreement in a short time responds to the need for competitiveness and continuous innovation of the pharmaceutical industry in Italy. It is an important step to respond to international competition and to enable us to increase productivity, skills and employment, which has grown by 8% in the last five years, especially among young people. The renewal is a fundamental part of a strategy for the growth of the pharmaceutical industry in Italy, for which the quality of Human Resources is the first factor of attractiveness. Research, science, industrial technology and data represent more than ever the future development areas of our companies'. Sergio Marullo di Condojanni, Farmindustria's delegate for Industrial Relations, added: 'On this occasion too, our industrial relations model has distinguished itself by confirming a method of constant and constructive dialogue between social partners. A characteristic that allows us to evolve the CCNL model into a strategic vision tool with respect to continuous and rapid changes. Among these, the most keenly felt is the skills challenge, which is crucial for innovation, attractiveness and business growth. Shared choices will also be useful to attract talent, retain it, adapt organisations and strengthen the welfare system of our sector'.