Labour Trends and Precarious Work in Italy: The Need to (Re)Place Work at the Forefront

The precariousness experienced by workers varies across roles, genders, and cultural backgrounds. Despite sharing a common condition of insecurity, workers are entangled in a web of fragmentation, with disparate contracts, tasks, and workplaces exacerbating their isolation. Many refrain from exchanging personal experiences, consumed by anxiety and competition. Internally exhausted, they perpetuate a narrative of self-deprecation, epitomized by the refrain, "you should be grateful you have a job." Others feel blamed by families and relatives for their desire to hold out for a better job or to quit their undesirable or meaningless precarious work.

This fragmentation has been further intensified by legislative reforms, such as the 2015 Jobs Act, which significantly reduced the possibility of reinstatement in cases of unlawful dismissal. As a result, employers now face fewer repercussions for terminating contracts, fostering a pervasive atmosphere of flexibility in employment conditions. This affects not only temporary workers but also permanent employees, who remain vulnerable to illegitimate termination without reinstatement. This paper analyzes precarious work in present-day Italy, delving into its complex characteristics, socio-economic ramifications, and policy implications. Grounded in theoretical frameworks from economic sociology, labour and organization studies, and critical concepts from Michel Foucault, Axel Honneth, Nancy Fraser, and Alain Supiot, the paper situates this phenomenon within broader socio-economic dynamics. It assesses its effects on economy, individuals, and social cohesion.

Drawing on empirical studies and adopting an intersectional approach, this paper highlights the experiences of precarious workers in Italy, with particular attention to how precariousness intersects with gender, age, and socio-economic status. Finally, the paper explores policy implications for decent work and inclusion, suggesting future research directions to address the challenges associated with precarious work, underlining the need to (re)place work at the forefront of public debate, to not limit the analysis only to the phenomenon of the so-called Great Resignation.