APPRENTICESHIPS
IN ITALY
Alessia Romito
ISFOL – Institute for the development of vocational training
Main aspects of
Italian Apprenticeship
 Apprenticeship is a labour and training contract with a specific
supporting legislation
 Apprentices = paid workers, who have to attend specific
vocational courses in order to acquire certifications or diplomas
and university degrees
 Traditionally, apprenticeship is not linked to the education system
The apprenticeship system was reformed by the "Consolidated
Apprenticeship Act", approved on October 25th 2011 and entered into
force on April 25th 2012. The new Law amends and reorganizes the
previous legislation on apprenticeship and in particular introduces
some new features in the three types of contract
Apprenticeship Typologies
Types
Apprenticeship for the
qualification and the
professional diploma
Professional apprenticeship
Apprenticeship for higher
education and research
Target groups
15-25 years old
18-29 years old
18-29 years old
Pourpose
to acquire a vocational
qualification diploma
recognized at national
level
to obtain a labour
market qualification
(recognized by
collective agreement
and enterprises)
to acquire a diploma
released by the
education system, at
secondary or tertiary
level, or a doctorate
degree.
Some data
Nr. of apprentices in 2011 (old apprenticeship system)
504.558
1° level: 6.643 (1,3%)
2° level: 496.920 (98,5%)
3° level: 995 (0,2%)
Up to 18 years old
19-29 aged
Recruitment forecast of apprentices first quarter of 2013 (private sector
only)
6,4% of the total recruitments in all enterprises
7,6% of the total recruitments in SMEs
Size-classes
SMEs
Nr of
Enterprises
Nr of
Employees
Micro
1-9
95,3%
48,0%
Small
10-49
4,1%
99,4%
19,6%
67,6%
Medium
50-249
0,5%
12,0%
Large
> 249
0,1%
20,4%
Stakeholders
State level
• national framework, fixing rights and duties of
the enterprises and apprentices
• main features of the apprenticeship contract
Regions/Autonomous Province
• local regulation, mainly related to the training
aim of the contract
• length of the vocational training (key skills)
• supply of vocational training courses
Social Partners (Collective Bargaining)
• length of the apprenticeship contract
• length and contents of the professional vocational
training
• provision of on the job training
• further vocational training
Enterprises: role and benefits
Role
The enterprise is responsible for the
on and off the job training
 draw up the training plan;
 ensure the apprentice training,
as provided in the training plan;
 ensure the presence of a
company tutor;
 ensure the company tutor’s
training
Benefits
 lower wage for apprentice
 reductions in welfare and social
security contributions for the
entire length of apprenticeship
contract – (No contribution for
micro enterprises)
 technical and operative support,
offered by Bilateral Bodies, for:
• drawing up training
plans
• Accomplishing on the
job vocational training
 Voucher for accomplishing
vocational training, provided by
special national programs or
local Authorities.
Focus on Higher Apprenticeship
This kind of apprenticeship contract can be offered to young
people between the ages of 18 and 29 in all sectors of production
It is aimed to obtain a qualification: upper secondary
diploma, university first degree or higher degree, doctorate
degree
The Regions establish the regulation and lenght of the training programmes,
through an agreement with trade unions, business organizations,
universities and other higher education institutions
It is a new form of apprenticeship and it is spreading very slowly.
Main critical points
• Difficulites to link University and enterprices
• Governance
• Financial resources for extra work needed to university to plan
and organize individual training programmes for apprentices
Thanks for your attention
For more information:
www.nuovoapprendistato.gov.it (Info in English)
a.romito@isfol.it