How many types of employment contracts are there in Italy?

In Italy there are different types of employment contracts. The main ones are:

• Tempo Determinato
• Tempo Indeterminato
• Apprendistato
• Contratto a Chiamata / Intermittente
• Contratto di Somministrazione

Tempo Determinato contract

The tempo determinato contract (fixed-term contract) is a contract where you work for a company for a specific period, so there is an expiration date on your contract.

Normally, the maximum duration is 12 months, but it can reach 24 months if specific legal requirements are met.

The contract can be extended up to 4 times within the 24-month period. Extensions and renewals are subject to different rules.

If the contract doesn’t allow you to quit before the expiration date, you generally cannot you generally cannot leave the job early. Except for example in case of serious reason (giusta causa) or by agreement with the employer.

Tempo Indeterminato contract

The tempo indeterminato contract (permanent contract) has no expiration date.

The employer cannot simply fire you without a valid legal reason. You can leave the job by respecting the notice period (preavviso), which depends mainly on the applicable CCNL and your job level.

Apprendistato contract

The apprenticeship contract is a permanent contract aimed at training the employee.

The training period usually lasts up to 3 years, depending on the type of apprenticeship and the applicable CCNL.

For the most common type, the professional apprenticeship, it is generally for people between 18 and 29 years old, although there are some exceptions.

During the apprenticeship, the employee can receive a lower salary according to the rules of the applicable CCNL.

At the end of the apprenticeship period, the contract continues as a normal permanent contract unless one of the parties legally ends it.

Contratto a Chiamata / Intermittente

The contratto a chiamata (on-call/intermittent contract) is a type of contract where the employee works only when the employer needs him, according to the rules of the contract.

The employee can be paid for the hours actually worked. In some cases, they can also receive an availability allowance.

There is generally a limit of 400 working days in three calendar years with the same employer, although there are some exceptions.

The contract can be either fixed-term or permanent.

Contratto di Somministrazione

The contratto di somministrazione (agency work contract) is when an employment agency hires you and sends you to work for another company.

Even though you work at that company, your employer is the employment agency, which is responsible for your employment relationship and salary.

The contract between you and the agency can be either fixed-term or permanent, although fixed-term contracts are very common.

In simple terms: you work for Company A, but your employment contract is with the agency.