Deployment of Telework in European Public Administrations

Case No. 9: Italy - The Municipality of Rome
Policy environment
The concept of teleworking has not fully entered the political and economic agenda of Italy.
Recent surveys suggest that only about a 18% of Italian companies know about telework, even in
economically developed areas. Nevertheless, a number of large companies have already signed
collective agreements with trade unions and are about to introduce limited telework schemes. In
1996 and 1997 general national collective agreements were signed between employers and trade
unions for the IT sector as well as the Service and Commerce sector.
‘Lavoro & Technologies’ ( Research Association, Rome, Patrizio Di Nicola) drafted a legislative
proposal which was suggested to the Italian Government and to other political forces, with the aim
of promoting and developing the practice of telework. The proposal includes a national telework
fund which will be also available to public administrations. The proposal has been presented to
the members of Parliament and the social partners.
Several representatives of large companies and unions are participating in the DIPLOMAT
consensus-process for the elaboration of guidelines in ‘Labour Relations’. MIRTI`s (see p. 24)
headquarters are located in Italy. One of the project tasks is to identify agreements of telework
arrangements and providing expertise and support to social partners for negotiating telework
collective agreements. This finds particular response from actors on national level, for example,
ETD in Italy is heavily engaged in supporting the development of teletrade and telecooperation.
The Camera dei Deputati at Parliament has shown its intentions to introduce a telework trial. Four
Italian Ministeries (Transport and Navigation, Cultural Heritage and Environment, Agricultural
and Food Resources and Ministry of Justice) will participate in an experimental telework project,
initially applied to the procedures related to staff administration. The Ministry of Transport and
Navigation has initiated a new model of work organisation. An experiment with 40 employed