Social Rules Business Rome

Social rules for businesses in Rome

In Italy, employers must fulfill a series of social obligations to provide employees with a safe and healthy working environment. Entrepreneurs setting up a business in Rome must provide employees with insurance safeguarding them from accidents at work. This insurance must be obtained from the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), which is the official body safeguarding workers from physical injuries, financial damage and occupational diseases.

Employers must provide insurance for employees and contract workers hired for activities which the law deems risky. Craftsmen and self-employed workers in agriculture are also required to insure themselves.

Health and safety rules concerning the working environment are set out in Decree no. 81. It has introduced severe sanctions for enterprises breaking safety rules. Companies which persistently and severely violate safety rules risk having their business activity suspended. Contracts, subcontracts and supply contracts that do not indicate costs concerning safety at work are void.

Employers must assess all potential risks to which employees may be exposed. They need to draw up a document containing:

a report evaluating all the possible health and safety risks involved during working activity; precautionary and individual safety measures adopted; a programme defining measures to be taken in order to improve the safety of the working environment; procedures required to implement measures; names of: the person in charge of accident prevention and safety, the workers' representative responsible for safety and the doctor who has participated in the risk assessment; an outline of the tasks involving risks that need to be carried out by employees with specific qualifications; specific risk categories such as work-related stress or stress caused by gender, age and racial differences.

The risk assessment report helps entrepreneurs evaluate measures for providing employees with the safest possible working conditions. It can be consulted by the person in charge of safety measures within the company, as well as trade union representatives and Local Health Authorities. Local Health Authorities are in charge of verifying the enforcement of health and safety measures in the working environment.

Employers must respect maternity and gender rights, protecting working mothers and ensuring that there is no form of gender discrimination in the office.

When setting up a business in Rome, entrepreneurs must consult the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL) and provide insurance for their company. Should an accident requiring more than 3 days' recovery happen, it must be reported by the employer to the Workers' Compensation Authority.

Companies operating in Rome with more than 10 employees that are not particularly exposed to risks can assess these through self-certification. An inter-ministerial decree will then set the type of standard procedure to be followed in the future.

The Rome offices of the Italian Workers' Compensation Authority provide general information regarding the services offered (compensation, treatment, medical services). Specific information regarding personal files can be requested only by the local INAIL office.

The Chamber of Commerce of Rome assist entrepreneurs in administrative procedures aimed at meeting social rules.