AGP Executive Report

Pay and Living Costs: Workers and students protested in Rome over stagnant wages and rising costs, amid a wider debate over household pressures and government priorities. Jobs and Budget: Italy’s employment reached a record high as the government promoted tourism growth. The cabinet approved a €26 billion 2027 budget, with tax breaks for young people planned. Workplace Policies: A new payment for working mothers and incoming EU pay-transparency rules put family support and employer obligations in focus.

Pay Transparency: Employers are being advised on how to handle workers’ information requests under the EU Pay Transparency Directive, a growing compliance issue for HR teams. Italian Jobs: Italy’s labour market sends mixed signals: employment has reached a record high, with tourism among the drivers, while Eurostat reports 118,000 more unemployed people in September. Support for Working Mothers: Italy’s new “Bonus mamme” offers a payment for eligible working mothers, with guidance on how to claim. Transport Strikes: Rail and city transport walkouts are among the labour disputes putting autumn travel in Italy at risk.

Hiring in Italy: Gaming group Digitain appointed Domenico Mazzola as its Italian head of sales while targeting expansion in the country. Italian Investment Abroad: Bracco plans a $230 million U.S. manufacturing plant expected to create 200 jobs, extending an Italian company’s operations overseas. Workforce Pressures: Milan’s rising living costs are driving teachers away, highlighting a growing challenge for schools trying to retain staff. Employment Trends: Italy’s employment reached a record high, with tourism and “Made in Italy” cited as drivers, though poverty remains a concern. Restructuring: Italian insurer Generali plans to cut about 800 jobs in Germany by 2030 as part of an AI-driven overhaul.

Labour Unrest: Workers and students marched across Italy on Friday over the cost of living, war spending and government policy, as unions staged a general strike. Business and Jobs: Italy approved its 2027 budget, including tax increases for banks, insurers and energy firms; meanwhile, iGaming supplier Digitain named a new sales chief as it plans to expand in Italy. Employment: Italy’s jobless rate held at 6.3% in September, while employment fell by 7,000 from August, according to Istat. Cost of Living: Milan’s rising expenses are driving teachers away, highlighting pressure on workers in high-cost cities.

Teacher Retention: Milan’s rising cost of living is driving teachers away, adding pressure to school staffing. Labour Market: Italy’s unemployment rate held at 6.3% in September, while employment fell by 7,000 from August, Istat reported. Skills and Inclusion: A nonprofit restaurant in Italy is creating opportunities for migrant women through hospitality work. Workplace Technology: Generative AI adoption at work remains lower in Italy than in the US, highlighting the challenge of helping firms and workers build the skills to use new tools.

Labour Market: Italy’s unemployment rate held at 6.3% in September. Employment fell by 7,000 from August but was up 198,000 year over year; youth unemployment eased to 19.9%. 2027 Budget: The €26bn package includes tax breaks for young people and support for working mothers, while raising levies on banks and energy firms. Green Jobs: A UN report says ecosystem restoration already supports more than one million jobs worldwide, with investment potentially creating 32 million by 2030. But nature loss could put 140 million jobs across the EU, UK and Switzerland at risk. Inclusive Employment: A nonprofit restaurant in Italy is using hospitality to create opportunities for migrant women.

2027 Budget: Italy’s cabinet approved a €26 billion draft budget, including a 5% tax rate for new hires under 35 and tax relief for some self-employed workers. Parliament must still approve the plan. Transport Disruption: Rail workers are set to strike on October 30, while airport staff are also planning a walkout, putting travel at risk. Workplace Safety: Italy’s new AI workplace-safety rules take effect Thursday and cover scheduling tools. Support for Working Mothers: A new “bonus mamme” payment offers working mothers financial support, with guidance now available on how to claim it.

Labor Market: Italy’s employment rate reportedly reached a record 63% in the second quarter, with unemployment at 6.3%. New welfare support is tied to job training, though stricter eligibility has cut incomes for many households and youth and women’s participation remains low. Workplace Safety: A new Italian mandate taking effect Thursday covers AI tools used for workplace scheduling. Industrial Hiring: Bracco plans to invest $230 million in its first US manufacturing plant, creating 200 jobs. Industrial Relations: Rail workers are set to strike on October 30, with airport walkouts also planned. Youth Concerns: Young protesters are demanding action on housing costs, reflecting wider frustrations about economic opportunity and living standards. SME Growth: The EIB and CDP have agreed up to €500 million in financing for small and mid-sized businesses, including projects in innovation and the energy transition.

Employment: Italy’s employment rate has reached a record high, with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni pointing to tourism and “Made in Italy”; poverty remains a concern. Workplace Rules: A new Italian workplace-safety mandate takes effect Thursday and covers scheduling tools, adding compliance duties for employers. Corporate Moves: Italian insurer Generali plans to cut about 800 jobs in Germany by 2030 as part of an AI-driven restructuring. Milan-based Bracco, meanwhile, will invest $230 million in a US manufacturing plant, creating 200 jobs there.

Industrial Action: Italy faces a planned nationwide strike on October 30, with airport staff among those who may walk out; a separate stoppage by ground handlers in Pisa and Florence could disrupt flights. Fashion Jobs: AI-generated models could cut brands’ image-production costs by 90% or more, while putting models’ work and image rights at risk. Draft contracts from brands including Italian label Diesel seek rights to create digital clones without extra pay. Manufacturing Investment: EDGE has completed its takeover of Italian propulsion specialist CMD and plans to expand production and R&D, while retaining current shareholders in management roles; no job total was announced. New Jobs: Finnish fast-food chain Hesburger has opened its first Italian restaurant, in Matera, creating about 20 positions.

Business Expansion: Edgewing opened its first global site in Italy for the GCAP programme, while EY launched a Florence office and EIB-BCC Iccrea made €125 million available to support Italian SMEs. Labor Action: A week-long trucker protest over fuel costs disrupted fuel and food supplies across Italy. Creative Industries: Italy’s film and TV production spending hit a seven-year low, a setback for a sector that supports jobs across the production chain.

Workforce Restructuring: Generali plans to cut about 9% of its German workforce, mainly through voluntary retirements, while investing in digital skills and recruiting for future roles. The move is part of the Italian insurer’s broader push to simplify operations. Pay Equity: Women in Europe’s health and social care sector earn 19% less per hour than men, according to a WHO report; Italy’s gap is narrower than Spain’s and Portugal’s. Florence Jobs: EY has opened a new office bringing together more than 100 professionals, as part of a wider Italian workplace upgrade programme. The firm says it is investing in young talent, training and local ties. Workplace Rules: Italy’s AI workplace-safety mandate takes effect Thursday, with scheduling tools included. Labour Action: A week-long truckers’ protest over fuel costs has disrupted fuel and food supplies across Italy.

Transport Workers: A week-long truckers’ protest in Italy disrupted fuel and food supplies, highlighting how labor disputes can ripple through essential services. Workplace AI: Italy’s new workplace-safety rules now cover AI scheduling tools, putting employers’ use of automated systems under closer scrutiny. Job Cuts: Generali is cutting about 800 jobs in Germany, a major restructuring move by the Italian insurance group. Worker Rights: Barilla employees downed tools over a production plan, while a wider European report described criminal gangs forcing workers to endure gruelling hours without pay.

Protests and Opportunity: Demonstrations in Italy and across Europe brought anger over living costs, inequality and limited opportunities for young people onto the streets. Workplace AI: Italy’s new workplace-safety rules cover AI scheduling tools, putting employers’ use of the technology under closer scrutiny. Job Cuts: Generali plans to cut about 800 jobs in Germany by 2030 as it restructures around AI. Worker Protections: A report on Afghan migrants in Italy highlights low pay, insecure work and exploitation. Industrial Relations: Barilla workers went on strike over a production plan.

Corporate Restructuring: Italy’s Generali plans to cut about 800 jobs in Germany by 2030 as it overhauls operations with AI. Transport Strike: A 24-hour strike planned for October 30 could disrupt trains and flights across Italy. Migrant Employment: A report on Afghan migrants in Italy highlights low pay, discrimination, job insecurity and exploitation. Worker Action: Barilla employees have downed tools over a production plan, adding to labor tensions as protests across Italy and Europe reflect anger over living costs, stagnant wages and a lack of opportunities for young people.

Workforce Cuts: Generali’s German subsidiary plans to eliminate 800 jobs—about 9% of its workforce—by 2030, mainly through retirements and attrition, while investing more than €100 million in technology and AI. Leadership: Italian engineering group RINA named Paolo Moretti, its general manager, as CEO, succeeding Carlo Luzzatto. Labour Relations: Barilla workers went on strike over a production plan, amid wider protests in Italy involving workers and young people angered by living costs and limited prospects. Migrant Employment: A report found Afghan migrants in Italy face low pay, insecure work and exploitation.