Labour, criminal benefits for virtuous companies under consideration: here's how

An additional EUR 650 million will finance new measures to support health and safety in the workplace. The endowment is in addition to the 600 million already available from the Inail calls for tenders, intended to co-finance business investments. The government has a series of measures in store, but on the instructions of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the council of ministers has not issued any decree, pending the consultation of the social partners, who will be convened at Palazzo Chigi on 8 May.

In the meantime, the technical investigation on the EUR 650 million to be made available for the new work safety measures continues. The State General Accounting Office has already warned of possible repercussions on the deficit. This is also why the government's intention is to draw on the sums not spent by Inail or from operating surpluses. Let us enter into the merits of the measures being studied.

The government plans to strengthen the 'bonus malus' mechanism by rewarding the most virtuous companies. The aim is to strengthen the system of incentives and disincentives for companies based on their safety conduct, with a special focus on the agricultural world. Companies that invest beyond the mere fulfilments of the 2008 Safety Consolidation Act will be granted an advantage in the insurance premiums to be paid to INAIL.

The bonus mechanism could act in several directions. The measures being studied by the Ministry of Labour technicians aim to reward the virtuosity of companies: the 600 million earmarked from the Inail budget to finance the Isi call for proposals are used to implement procedures to improve health and safety in the workplace. The Inail 2024-2025 call for applications opened last 14 April (the closing date for applications is 30 May) allows companies to obtain a non-repayable contribution of 65%, up to an amount of EUR 130,000, for investments in the purchase of new equipment and machinery that help improve the health and safety of workers.

A commission that has been in operation for about a year at the Ministry of Justice is considering granting favourable treatment to virtuous companies in the area of safety, which in the event of accidents involving their employees will only be liable for gross negligence, without prejudice to liability for damages.