The Role of Collective Bargaining in Italian Labour Law

Purpose. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the most important features of the Italian collective bargaining system, together with its historical developments. Design/methodology/approach. We examine the legal framework under Italian law, the structure of the Italian collective bargaining system and the transnational dimension of Italian collective bargaining. Findings. The increasing integration of markets and rapidly evolving entrepreneurial needs have led to ever greater flexibilisation of national labour regulations, bringing about major changes in European collective bargaining systems. Research limitations/implications. This research provides a critical debate about Italian collective bargaining. Originality/value. A number of transnational collective agreements concluded by Italian firms are investigated, alongside their content and the academic debate that these arrangements have generated. Paper type. Research paper.