The minimum age for admission to work is set at the moment in which the minor has completed the period of compulsory education and in any case cannot be less than 16 years, or 15 in the context of school-work alternation; exceptions are allowed only for light work and during school breaks.
A League bill envisages allowing adolescents – between the ages of fourteen and sixteen – to carry out occasional work in the tourism-seaside and commerce sectors. Subject to authorization from the parent or person exercising parental responsibility and through the use of the ‘job vouchers’ system.
In order to “help young people in economic difficulty or in a condition of transitory social hardship” but also to create with these opportunities “a valid alternative to the increasingly frequent loneliness or negative sociality”. The bill was presented to the Chamber and signed by about ten deputies. We start from an assumption: especially in the summer period “the increasingly frequent anti-bivouac ordinances issued by local administrations to protect the safety and quality of urban liveability create an increasingly worrying scenario in the summer periods, where often many minors cannot access to socialization structures, due to their absence or for family economic reasons, and find themselves practicing incorrect and harmful behaviors and consumption”.
Furthermore – underline the signatories of the PDL – “cases of crimes and disorders committed by baby gangs are increasingly frequent throughout the national territory and the risk that such a long period of school suspension and holidays could cause an increase is very high , with a disruptive impact in terms of public safety”.
“In this regard – it is further emphasized – the theme linked to the spectacularisation of actions takes on importance, thanks to the growing use of social networks, which leads young people to post videos while carrying out illegal activities in search of visibility”. The objective of the proposal is, therefore, to ensure that, on a transitional basis, younger people are allowed “to work also in sectors other than those in which it is already permitted, such as, for example, bars, restaurants, hotels or bathing establishments”. Thus increasing the types of work possible for adolescents.
“In the summer period – states Andrea Dara, first signatory of the PDL – there are parents who, having to work or take shifts, are unable to look after their children and who, also due to the high costs, are unable to enroll them in recreational centres. In tourist cities and mountain areas these kids could go to work” with ad hoc support.
Starting from the year 2007-2008, the number of years of compulsory education was raised to ten years and, consequently, the minimum age for admission to work was raised to 16 years. The only exceptions allowed to the minimum age limit for working are connected to the carrying out of work activities of a cultural, artistic or advertising nature or in any case in the entertainment sector. The objective of the PDL is to extend the possibility for adolescents to enter the world of work, also carrying out other ‘jobs’. This would “enable real income creation for the beneficiaries”, thus helping “family budgets and allowing sure personal growth of the recipients, in terms of conscience and responsibility and quality of life”.
Naturally – we read again in the text – within a framework of fair remuneration, coherence and compatibility of possible tasks and absolute safety. “The commission could involve the social partners and identify the best formulas to allow children to do odd jobs, with limits linked to timetables and functions”, says the Northern League representative. One of the tools – Dara hypothesizes – would be that of ‘vouchers’.
“it is clear that there are difficulties in getting a teenager to sign a contract”, but with a discussion with the social partners “we could find suitable solutions. Obviously there is already a law on work for minors, it would be to introduce a trial for the years 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027”.