Support for self-employment, incentives delayed

Delayed are the new incentives to support self-employment, 'Centro Nord Italia' and 'Resto al Sud 2.0,' provided for by the Cohesion Decree. More than four months after the publication in the Official Journal of the law converting Decree 60, in force since 7 July, the incentives are still not operational. What is delayed are the inter-ministerial decrees with which the relevant ministries (Labour, European Affairs, Economy) must define the terms, criteria, and financing methods of the incentivised initiatives.

As will be recalled, it was the Cohesion Decree (Decree 60/2024), last May, that redesigned (and multiplied) labour subsidies according to certain individuals considered to be most in difficulty, or distant from employment.

In particular, in Article 16, a double measure is planned to promote active inclusion and job placement to support the start of self-employment, entrepreneurial and freelance activities. The first measure is called 'Self-Employment in Central and Northern Italy'. Beneficiaries are young people under 35, in marginalised and difficult conditions, or unemployed, inactive, unemployed or jobless recipients of the Gol programme measures (Workers' Employment Guarantee). Funding is foreseen for training and pre-project accompaniment services, tutoring for skills enhancement, and actual incentives in the form of vouchers.

In the latter case, with 'Autoimpiego Centro Nord Italia', a maximum amount of up to EUR 30,000 can be obtained for the purchase of goods, tools, and services for the start-up of self-employment, entrepreneurial, and freelance activities, either individually or collectively. This rises to EUR 40 thousand if innovative, technological and digital goods and services are purchased, or goods that ensure environmental sustainability or energy saving. Alternatively, de minimis aid can be obtained for expenditure programmes below 120 thousand, consisting of a non-repayable contribution of up to 65% of the investment. If expenditure programmes are over 120 thousand and up to 200 thousand, the non-repayable contribution is 60%.

In order to make the measure operational, according to Article 17(6), a decree of the Ministry of Labour, in agreement with the Ministries for European Affairs and the Economy, must be issued within ninety days of the entry into force of the decree. However, the implementing measure is still locked in the drawers. On Tuesday, the Minister of Labour, Marina Calderone, at the Cnel, said that the decree on 'Autoimpiego Centro Nord Italia' will be published shortly: 'it is an intervention that is particularly close to my heart, and one of its objectives is to encourage the generational changeover that the professional labour sector needs. Anticipation is high, as evidenced by the numerous messages with requests for clarification that have been reaching our newspaper for weeks.