Work, bonus 2.0 arrives: new incentives for women, young people and Zes

The subsidised hirings are of persons under 35, who have not been in regular paid employment for at least 24 months or have not been in regular paid employment for at least 12 months and belong to one of the categories referred to in points c), e), f) and g) of the definition of 'disadvantaged worker'. The exemption, which does not apply to domestic work and apprenticeships, increases to €650 if the employers who hire are based (or have a production unit) in the regions of Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Sicily, Puglia, Calabria, Sardinia, Marche and Umbria.

The incentive is for 12 months for the open-ended hiring of persons who, on the date of the incentivised hiring, belong to one of the categories referred to in points a) to c) and e) to g) of the definition of 'disadvantaged worker'. As for women, it is necessary that the hiring results in a net increase in employment, and that the employer has not dismissed any employees in the previous six months.

More. In order to support the employment development of the Special Economic Zone for the Mezzogiorno - ZES unico and contribute to the reduction of territorial disparities, employers who hire on open-ended contracts from 1 January to 31 December 2026 are granted, for a maximum period of 24 months, full (100%) exemption from contributions up to EUR 650 on a monthly basis.

The incentive is granted to recruitments made by companies employing up to 10 employees (in the month of recruitment) and is recognised in the case of hiring persons who, on the date of recruitment, are 35 years of age or older and have been unemployed for at least 24 months.

In the draft decree of 1 May, the decontribution for companies that invest in work-life balance also appears.

To support family and work, maternity and paternity, as from the date of entry into force of the law converting this decree-law, companies in possession of the certification referred to in Article 8, paragraph 1, letter e) of Legislative Decree No. 184 of 27 November 2025 are granted an exemption from the payment of social security contributions payable by the employer determined to an extent not exceeding 1 per cent and up to a maximum of EUR 50,000 per year.

The exemption is determined by a decree of the political authority delegated to family, natality and equal opportunities policies and the Minister of Labour and with the MEF, to be adopted within thirty days of the entry into force of the law converting this decree.