Italian trade unions in the textile and clothing sectors have concluded a national collective agreement with the employers' side, Sistema Moda Italia (SMI), including a monthly wage increase of €90 and a minimum wage increase of €70.
The deal also offers better health insurance and occupational pensions, more flexible parental leave, and a commitment to retraining. It covers over 420,000 workers in more than 40,000 companies, and runs from 1 April until 31 December 2019.
With 100,000 jobs lost in the textile sector over the last five years, this national collective agreement offers hope that industrial relations are being rebuilt, to the benefit of both workers and employers, potentially revitalising industrial production in Italy.