Overview

• Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni reaffirmed the government's €1.2 billion workplace safety package, including €650 million in new funds, and announced a May 8 meeting with unions and employers to address labor issues.
• Nationwide rallies organized by CGIL, CISL, and UIL under the slogan 'Uniti per un lavoro sicuro' highlighted the rise in workplace fatalities, with INAIL reporting a 16% increase in early 2025 compared to the previous year.
• Union leader Maurizio Landini warned of potential mobilizations if the May 8 talks do not result in substantive negotiations and concrete measures on workplace safety and worker protections.
• The traditional Concertone in Rome featured tributes to workplace safety, with artists like Leo Gassmann opening with 'Bella Ciao' and references to Pope Francis's remarks emphasizing the moral imperative of safe working conditions.
• May Day celebrations also underscored Italy's labor market achievements, with the government citing record employment levels and a recent shift to real wage growth, though unions and opposition parties criticized persisting wage and job security issues.