The legal instrument used in Italy in the field of employment policy is the law which is proposed by government or parliamentary groups and approved by the two chambers of parliament.
The social partners are, however, involved in determining the overall direction of general policy in the two aspects of legislative activity and economic policy and planning.
The participation of the social partners does not have a written basis but proceeds according to a special procedure. Participation in drafting laws and regulations relating to employment occurs during tripartite conferences and meetings. Both are instruments of direct consultation between trade unions and employers' associations on private bills.
During the tripartite conferences, the social partners each express their opinions in a debate between the government and the most representative trade unions and employers' associations. During the tripartite meetings, on the other hand, all the interested parties are heard separately without direct debate.
The government can ask the social partners to present their opinion orally or in writing.
Furthermore, it has become parliamentary practice to frequently seek the opinion of the trade unions and employers' associations on all issues relating to work in order to obtain full and detailed information on the subjects of the laws under discussion.
As regards the involvement of the social partners in determining measures related to economic policy and planning, the Treasury has set up a National Planning Commission consisting of 13 experts and 16 representatives of the most important employers' and trade union organisations.
Furthermore, economic planning committees have been established in each of the regions, consisting of representatives from the most representative associations. The purpose of these committees is to propose regional development plans and to collaborate with the national bodies of economic planning.
EU – European Commission DG EMPL/A/2 J
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