Inspections

Labour, eight out of ten companies in Sicily are not in compliance

Inps checks in 2025: 10,807 irregular employment relationships discovered (+21%), claims assessed at 77.6 million

by Nino Amadore

12 March 2026

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Testing in private schools
Unlawful employment
Database and supervision

2' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Services, trade, tourism, and private training remain among the sectors most exposed to irregular employment in Sicily. It is in these sectors that a significant part of the inspections carried out by the Inps in 2025 is concentrated, an inspection activity that led to the discovery of more than 10,800 irregular employment relationships and to the ascertainment of credits amounting to more than 77 million euro in evaded contributions and penalties. More than eight out of ten companies inspected were found to be irregular: out of 694 inspections carried out in 2025, 600 companies were found to be non-compliant, representing more than 86% of the total.

Verification in private schools

Among the targeted audits launched by the institute was also the case of public schools, the subject of a specific inspection campaign. Thirty inspections were carried out in the sector and, among those already concluded, several irregularities emerged: 19 workers were completely undeclared, 32 work relationships were cancelled, and over 1.6 million euro in credits were ascertained between contributions and sanctions. Inspection activities in the sector are still ongoing and aim to verify the correctness of employment relationships and the possible use of fictitious contracts to access social security benefits.

Unlawful employment

Overall, the surveillance action of the Inps in 2025 led to the detection of 10,807 irregular employment relationships, an increase of over 21% compared to the approximately 8,900 cases detected in 2024. These included 435 completely undeclared workers, while over 5,300 work relationships were found to be simulated, i.e. activated with the aim of unduly obtaining social security benefits.

The inspections carried out during the year revealed total credits of 77.6 million euro. In detail, the inspection activity ascertained EUR 48.8 million in evaded contributions and EUR 28.7 million in civil penalties, marking an increase compared to 2024, when ascertained credits had stopped at around EUR 62 million.

During the course of the year, inspectors carried out 694 inspection visits to companies on the island. The level of irregularities found remains very high: 600 companies were found to be non-compliant, i.e. more than 86% of the total, while 94 companies were found to be in compliance.

Database and Surveillance

According to the Inps, the results of the surveillance activity were also made possible by the increasingly advanced use of databases and computerised analysis tools, which make it possible to identify anomalies in labour relations and to direct controls towards situations of greater risk. In fact, the surveillance system is based on a cross between administrative data, workers' reports and information from other inspection bodies.

The action to combat irregular work could be further strengthened in the coming years thanks to the strengthening of inspection staff. In fact, the Inps is counting on the arrival of new officials through the national competition announced jointly with the Inail and through internal selection procedures, with new entries expected by 2026.