The new Regional Trilateral convention between the Emilia-Romagna Region, trade unions and companies (deliberation n.2022, 29/11/2021): new beneficiaries, more stable workplaces for disadvantaged workers and a renewed relation between for profit and non-p
About this good practice
A new convention was adopted, with the main goal to enlarge the group of beneficiaries and guarantee stable working conditions to persons with mental and cognitive disabilities. the Regional Law 17/2005, and starting a new phase.
The new agreement has four main objectives:
To include among the beneficiaries of the job placement programs both physically disable workers (with severe health conditions) and vulnerable/fragile people (Article 4 of the convention)
To focus on the continuity of the working activities: the new convention will last 36 months, instead of 12, and will be renewable for 12 more months.;
To include the disadvantaged workers in a more protected working environment where the dropout rate is lower (the cooperatives represent a more suitable place for a disable worker).
To guarantee stable working conditions: the contract will last the compulsory months but the same disadvantaged workers can be involved in other activities afterwards without losing the job.
The Emilia-Romagna region commits to increase labour inclusion of the most vulnerable people, and strengthen the relation between for-profit enterprises and social cooperatives which can benefit from longer and more stable commercial agreements.
This measure was initially intended as a post-pandemic manoeuvre for social enterprises and has the potential to (indirectly) contribute to their competitiveness thanks to the enlargement of the group of beneficiaries.
Resources needed
The working integration of people with severe mental disabilities still represents a one of the weakest elements of the regional labour market. In particular, it has been difficult to ensure the continuity of their professional careers and this aspect has been further aggravated by the pandemic.
Evidence of success
The new Trilateral convention comes at the end of the experimental phase of Article 22 of the Regional bill 17/2005 by introducing corrective measures. The traditional decision-making approach in Emilia-Romagna is based on concertation and on an agreement between PAs, for profit companies, non profit organisations and trade unions. The specific objective of the new convention is the extension in the labour inclusion process of all types of vulnerability instead of just physical disabilities.
Potential for learning or transfer
The new Trilateral convention is is aimed to increase the employment rate of the most vulnerable workers: it promotes at the same time cooperation and exchanges between for profit and non profit companies.
The small “revolution” brought about by this regional measure resides in the effort to update and an important policy dedicated to labour inclusion of people with disability.
The concertation approach that takes place within the Regional Tripartite Commission and leads to the agreement is an important aspect of the Regional decision-making process and represents a transferrable model. It can be applied in different contexts and guarantees a wider correspondence between the needs of end users and the responses provided by the Public Administration.
This good practice is an example of regional policy aimed to balance between economic sustainable growth and social needs. The role of the Public Administration is to propose and implement the action of the private part.