Still a weak occupational welfare in Southern Europe? Evidence from the Italian case

The article focuses on Italy—a typical example of the Southern European model—and the recent evolution of occupational welfare (OW). It first provides up-to-date information on the spread of OW in the country. We then explain the persistent limited development of OW and its uneven diffusion—across policy areas (healthcare vs. pensions) and economic sectors (public vs. private sectors). The article focuses on the role of employers, trade unions, and policymakers. The state (as an employer) has not invested in OW for public employees—because of budgetary problems and a traditional lack of interest in the field—while private employers have started to invest in OW in line with broader business strategies. Trade unions have supported occupational health insurance, while they have resisted the spread of occupational pension funds. Such different strategies are related to the different role trade unions play in the two policies. Eventually, policymakers have followed different retrenchment strategies of statutory schemes in different policy fields: the more evident short-term impact of reforms in healthcare has “crowded-in” occupational schemes in the area, while the longer phase-in period of pension reforms has led to the more limited role of occupational pensions.