Strengthening the inter-institutional governance in the field of labour exploitation in Italy

The Commission supported the Italian authorities in their efforts to fight labour exploitation of workers, in particular in the agriculture and construction sectors. The project supported the elaboration of tailored made strategies to prevent exploitation, and strengthening the capacity of the national and local authorities to implement and manage such programmes.

Context

Labour exploitation affects several economic sectors (transport, construction, logistics and domestic work), but it is particularly spread in the agricultural sector with its high prevalence of informal employment. The Italian authorities stepped up action against labour exploitation. In 2016, the Parliament adopted a law to prevent and fight labour exploitation. But there was a need to strengthen the national and local capacity to actually design, implement and monitor programmes aimed at fight and preventing exploitation.

Support delivered

The support is provided with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) as implementing partner. The support measures consisted of:

• drafting a national road map and action plan to fight labour exploitation;
• reforming the institutional and governance framework and build national and local level capacity to initiate and manage programmes to fight labour exploitation;
• developing a monitoring and evaluation strategy.

Results achieved

The support from the Commission should increase the capacity of the Italian authorities to monitor the implementation of the National Action Plan on labour exploitation and to effectively implement key elements related to the protection of victims and their labour market inclusion. A particular focus is placed on a reinforced local capacity to tackle labour exploitation in agriculture.