Working in Italy - Employment of Women

Protection of working mothers

Female employees have the right to be absent from work for two months before and three months after childbirth, for an overall period of 5 months’ off work. If complications occur in the pregnancy or when the working conditions are considered hazardous to the mother or unborn child, application may be made to the Ministry of Employment inspection service to take early leave from one or one or more periods, whose length will be determined by the service. Female workers performing heavy jobs that are detrimental to the pregnancy, included on a special list, must by law be moved to other duties. If this is not possible, the Ministry of Employment inspection service may decide to ban the woman from working throughout her pregnancy. The female worker is also free to choose to abstain from work from one month before and during the four months after the birth, if this decision is not detrimental to the health of the mother and baby.

It is forbidden to force women to work between the hours of midnight and 6 am from the time the pregnancy is established to when the baby is one year of age.

Night work by women

The following are excused from night work: female workers with a child aged under three or the working father cohabiting with the female worker; a female or male working parent who has sole charge of a child under twelve who is living with him or her; a male or female worker who has charge of a disabled individual.

Source: European Union
© European Communities, 1995-2006
Reproduction is authorised.