I have signed the employment contract.
kon-TRAT-to di la-VOH-ro — stress 'TRAT' and 'VOH'; both double letters make short held sounds.
Use this when starting a new job in Italy. The contratto di lavoro must be signed before starting work and defines your type of employment, salary, hours, notice period, and the applicable collective bargaining agreement (CCNL).
Italian employment contracts are governed by the Codice del Lavoro and the relevant CCNL (Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro — national collective bargaining agreement). Contract types include tempo indeterminato (permanent), tempo determinato (fixed-term), and various forms of collaborazione and partita IVA (freelance). Understanding your contract type determines your rights and protections.
Ho un contratto a tempo indeterminato.
I have a permanent employment contract.
Tempo indeterminato is the most protected form of employment in Italy; notice periods and dismissal procedures apply.
Il mio contratto è a tempo determinato di sei mesi.
My contract is fixed-term for six months.
Tempo determinato has limits on renewals and total duration under Italian law.
Qual è il CCNL applicato?
Which national collective agreement applies?
CCNL sets minimum salary, overtime rates, and holiday entitlements by sector.
Italy has over 900 different CCNLs (collective bargaining agreements) — one of the highest numbers in the world. Each sector has its own: metalworkers, commercial workers, healthcare, education, hospitality, and so on. The CCNL is legally binding even for non-union workers. Italy's labour market is often described as rigid at the margins but flexible in practice through various para-employment arrangements.