Fashion, an increase of 200 euros per month and 600 euros of benefits for the 400 thousand workers

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For the 400 thousand textile and clothing workers there will be an increase of 200 euros, once fully operational, in three years, and an amount to be spent on welfare goods and services, with a total value of 600 euros over the three year. . As well as major improvements in contractual benefits – from supplementary health care to joint pensions and long-term care – and in training. These are some of the points of accreditation in the agreement proposed for the renewal of the national agreement for textile fabrics, signed by Sistema Moda Italia (Smi) and Filctem, Femca and Uiltec, which applies to around on 400 thousand workers and 40 thousand companies. But we can see in detail the points of the agreement that was signed a few months after the previous contract ended, despite the economic level that the supply chain of fashion clothing is suffering. The president of Smi, Sergio Tamborini, explains that “despite a very difficult time for the entire textile and clothing supply chain, we have signed a national contract that marks the beginning of a positive change is helpful in the relationship between companies and employees. Along with economic solutions, it was important to balance the needs of professionalism and efficiency of companies on the one hand, and the needs of safety, fairness and life of our colleagues on the other hand. In this context, the renewed attention to welfare, therefore to the overall well-being of workers, is also an important turning point for a profitable relationship between companies and workers”. For the unions it is « an innovative contract, which focuses on Industrial Relations for the relaunch of the sector, giving some answers to workers, not only in economic terms, but also in management terms, with special attention on the arrangement of life time. and work”, said Sonia Tosoni, Raffaele Salvatoni, Livia Raffaglio, national secretaries of Filctem Cgil, Femca Cisl, Uiltec Uil. According to the calculations, the total economic treatment, considering the increase and development of welfare institutions, rises to an average of 232 euros. But we’ll see.

The economic part

To recover the loss of purchasing power of wages, taking into account the inflation forecasts between now and 2027, Smi and the unions have agreed an average increase in the minimum contract, the so-called Tem, of 200 total total euro at the 4th. classification level. It will be paid out in 3 installments, 95 euros immediately, from this December, 57 euros from January 2026 and 48 euros from January 2027. The total amount will be 4,001 euros and the increase accordingly the minimum percentage of 11.20%, according to what the unions calculate. It should be noted that those employed at the first level will have an increase of 271 euros over the three years: this will allow them to exceed the hourly wage of 9 euros.

In order to increase net income for the benefit of employees, an amount of 600 euros has also been defined that can be spent on welfare goods and services, such as services with a social purpose, education and training, family support and the then also goods and services in another way. which, with recent regulatory interventions, enjoys significant exemptions from taxes and contributions. The first 200 euros will arrive immediately in December, then another 200 by 31 December 2025 and finally the last 200 euros by 31 December 2026. The wage guarantee element present in companies that do not have second-level bargaining exists and does not treat individual payments other than those in the contract, with effect from 2025, increased from 300 to 350 euros.

Equal employment relationship rules for everyone

Among the new things of this contract is the elimination of the differences between employees, intermediaries and employees in the management of the employment relationship. Smi and the unions have decided to overcome these differences, which have now largely disappeared, and to work on synthesis and integration. With the new national contract, a general contractual management framework is defined on the methods of recruiting young graduates or diploma holders, on the control of sickness compensation, especially regarding short illnesses and on the notice period contractual.

In addition, an intervention on flexibility was defined by the definition of contractual reasons that allow the duration of fixed-term contracts to be extended from 12 to 24 months.