Remote& | AI
All country guides

Employment guide

Hire and pay employees
in Italy

Employment law, payroll compliance, taxes, benefits, and hiring requirements for Italy — curated and reviewed by Remote&.

Capital
Rome
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
40 hours per week
Min. salary
01 — Country basics

Italy at a glance

Capital
Rome
Language
Italian
Currency
€ Euro (EUR)
Working Hours
40 hours per week
Public Holidays
12 days per year
Tax Year
Jan 1 – Dec 31
Worker misclassification risk
Italy strictly regulates false self-employment. If a worker operates under company direction and organizational control, authorities may reclassify the relationship and hold the employer liable for unpaid INPS social security contributions, taxes, and penalties.
02 — Tax obligations

Taxes in Italy

Employer Contributions

ContributionRate
Social security contributions (INPS)28%–33% of gross salary
Employer contributions
ContributionRate
Social security contributions (INPS)28%–33% of gross salary
Employee contributions
ContributionRate
Social security contributions9%–10% (varies by sector and collective agreement)
Income tax brackets
Gross IncomeTax Rate
€0 – €28,00023%
€28,001 – €50,00035%
Over €50,00043%
03 — Remote& EOR

Employer of Record in Italy

How Remote& EOR Works

Remote& acts as the legal employer of your Italian workers — managing INPS filings, payroll, statutory benefits, and employment contracts while you direct the work.

PartyRole
Your CompanyManages work tasks, performance, and team direction
Remote&Runs payroll, files INPS and taxes, administers benefits, ensures legal compliance
EmployeeWorks for your company under a locally compliant Italian contract

Ask Remi:

"Hire a full-stack developer in Italy — €4,800/month, starting next sprint" Remi handles everything: contract, INPS registration, payroll setup, and SSN health enrollment.
04 — What employees receive

Benefits in Italy

Statutory
  • National Health Service (SSN): Employees register with the Servizio Sanitario Nazionale, providing coverage to all legal residents including foreign nationals
Common additional
  • Supplemental health insurance
  • Travel allowance
  • Remote work stipend
  • Company car
  • Meal vouchers (buoni pasto)
  • Performance-based bonuses
  • Professional development budget
  • Additional paid leave
  • Flexible working hours
05 — Time away from work

Leave entitlements

Leave typeEntitlement
Paid Annual Leave22 days (plus public holidays)
Sick Leave3 days – 6 months (varies by collective agreement)
Maternity Leave5 months
Paternity Leave10 working days (20 days for multiple births)
Parental Leave10 months
Family Care Leave2 days unpaid
06 — Contracts & rights

Employment conditions

Probation

Probationary period length depends on the employee's role — no statutory minimum; maximum is 6 months. Collective bargaining agreements often define the specific duration per job category.

Employee Rights & Protections

Italian workers are protected by: right to a safe workplace, payslip requirements, work-life balance protections, transparent working conditions, Right to Disconnect, trade union rights, personal data protection (GDPR), unfair dismissal protection, equal pay and anti-discrimination rights, maternity and parental protections, and harassment protection.

07 — Payroll cadence

Payments

Payment frequency
Monthly
Payday
No legally mandated date; typically the last working day of the month per employment contract or applicable collective agreement.
08 — Off-boarding

End of employment in Italy

Employment termination in Italy is highly regulated. Employers must demonstrate legitimate grounds before ending employment. Three legal bases exist:

  • Just cause (giusta causa): Immediate dismissal for serious misconduct
  • Justified subjective reason (giustificato motivo soggettivo): Dismissal with notice for less serious misconduct
  • Justified objective reason (giustificato motivo oggettivo): Dismissal for business reasons (redundancy, reorganization)

Non-compliance with proper termination procedure may result in reinstatement orders or significant financial compensation.

09 — Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Four paths: run payroll from HQ (risky for Italian tax obligations); engage independent contractors (strictly regulated — false self-employment is widely penalized); establish an Italian legal entity (complex and time-consuming); or use Remote& as Employer of Record for the fastest compliant route.

Build your global team
through one conversation.

See it run on your own team.

Book a demoStart your free trial now