More protection for care workers with the new collective agreement for the domestic work sector

The new National Collective Labour Agreement (CCNL) for care work in the domestic sector has come into force on 1 November 2025. Endorsed by Domina and Fidaldo (employer organizations), and by Filcams-CGIL, Fisascat-CISL, UILTuCS-UIL and Federcolf (trade unions), this contract marks an important step forward both from a regulatory and an economic perspective as it introduces measures to strengthen worker protections and improve the quality of work.

In addition to the contractual provisions already in place, the new collective agreement extends certain rights that are not recognized by law to domestic workers, partially closing the gap with the rights enjoyed by workers in other economic sectors and in line with ILO’s Domestic Workers Convention, 2011 (No. 189). Among the new provisions are several parenthood-related protections, such as ten days of paternity leave, the possibility to extend maternity leave beyond the statutory period, and the right to paid leave to care for ill or disabled family members.

From an economic standpoint, the agreement provides for a €100 gross wage increase, to be phased in over the period of application of the contract (1 November 2025 – 31 October 2028), as well as an increase of nearly three times of the monthly allowance for domestic workers who have obtained training or skills certification from EBINCOLF, the bilateral body composed of the social partners of the domestic work sector.