Browse Ageing Policies

The Autonomous Province of Bolzano of Italy launched a campaign in 2020 to combat multigenerational stereotypes and promote understanding between age groups. It aligns with the Active Ageing Law by promoting a society where older individuals are respected and integrated, aiming to raise awareness of the social impact of generational stereotypes and foster solidarity across different age groups. The province provides a set of measures addressed to District Communities and Municipalities for the promotion of these campaigns. It was implemented at the regional level in Bolzano, Northern Italy, by the Department for Family, Social Affairs, and Community. It targeted the whole community, with a particular focus on younger and older populations. The campaign utilized public media, workshops, and educational programs to facilitate dialogue and break down prejudices. Collaborative efforts between NGOs, schools, and community groups further supported these goals. As a result, the initiative has helped to raise awareness, enhance social cohesion, and foster mutual respect between generations.

The "National multilevel co-managed coordination of active ageing policies” Project (2019) in Italy aims to create a national multilevel co-managed coordination of active ageing policies in Italy. It seeks to activate a shared intervention model for policymaking and policy implementation in the field of active ageing. The project plans to improve the status quo in various geographical contexts based on the results concerning the state of the art analysis. The project is a formal agreement between the Italian Presidency of the Council of Minister – Department for Family Policies (DIPOFAM, funding body) and IRCCS INRCA. The partnership is completed by representatives of the Ministry of Labour and of INAPP. The project is national in scope and involves different stakeholders at different geographical and governmental levels. It is a pilot project in sight of a possible (next) Italian Active Ageing Strategy. The project involves five main steps. Starting from an analysis of the state of the art concerning active ageing policies at the national and regional level (step 1), guidelines will be produced for policy making and policy implementation in the field of active ageing (step 2). The next aim is to identify one or more areas where to intervene to improve the status quo in the various geographical contexts (step 3), and then to proceed towards an implementation process of active ageing policies by using the guidelines (step 4), monitoring the evolution of the process (step 5).

The "Law 205/2017 (2018) - State Budget Law - Articles 254-256 - informal care" was introduced in 2017, as part of the Italian State Budget for 2018. The provisions related to informal care were implemented at the national level in Italy by the Italian government through the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies, in collaboration with local municipalities and social welfare organizations. It provided the Italian legal system with a first form of recognition for the activity of caregivers and unpaid care work and established the fund for the support of the role of family caregivers in care and assistance. It targets retirees, pensioners, and older persons who require social and healthcare support, especially those at risk of poverty or social isolation. Key features include adjusting pension eligibility based on life expectancy, with specific exemptions for workers in strenuous jobs, and providing tax incentives for foundations supporting community-based long-term care initiatives. The law also enhances social security measures for groups such as war veterans and politically persecuted individuals and supports public-private partnerships to develop integrated long-term care services, combining healthcare, social services, and community support.

The Ministry of Labour - Interministerial Decree of 7 April 2016 for the experimentation of "subsidized part time" close to the old age pension was initiated in 2016 and active until 2018. It focuses on facilitating the transition to part-time work for private-sector employees nearing retirement. It was jointly developed and implemented by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and the Ministry of Economy and Finance at the national level. The policy specifically targets private sector employees close to retirement age who have met the minimum contribution requirements for the old-age pension. Key features include the experimental measure which allowed individuals close to retirement (with no more than 3 years remaining before their old-age pension) to opt for a reduction in working hours, ranging from 40% to 60%. Employers compensate employees with a sum equivalent to the pension contributions for the reduced hours, while the state ensures that the employees' pension rights remain intact through figurative contributions. The policy had financial resources capped at specific annual limits, with a maximum limit of €60 million for 2016, €120 million for 2017, and €60 million for 2018.

The National Adult Population Skills Guarantee Plan was approved in 2019. The plan is led by the Ministry of Education and Merit. The Plan has been incorporated into the document "Implementation in Italy of the Council Recommendation Paths for improving the level of skills: new opportunities for adults" – Report pursuant to Point 16 of the Council Recommendation of 19 December 2016 (2016/C 484/01). The target is the adult population, starting from 18 years of age, especially low skilled and/or with low levels of qualifications, the unemployed, the inactive, those at risk of unemployment or with an income from work below the poverty threshold. The Plan is divided into two actions. The first action is focused on research and experimentation activities to enhance the role of the Provincial Centers for Adult Education (CPIA). The second action regards the acquisition of basic language and digital skills, key skills for lifelong learning, citizenship skills and skills, as set out in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.