What is Cassa Integrazione in Italy?

What is cassa integrazione?

Cassa integrazione (CIG) is Italy’s short-time work scheme. When an employer has to suspend or reduce work for reasons set by law, INPS pays employees a wage supplement for the hours not worked, so they keep their jobs. The rules are in Legislative Decree 148 of 2015.

The main schemes

Ordinary CIG (CIGO) covers industrial and construction companies facing temporary events, such as a temporary market downturn or bad weather. It lasts up to 13 continuous weeks, extendable by quarters to 52 weeks, and non-consecutive periods cannot exceed 52 weeks in any two-year rolling period.
Extraordinary CIG (CIGS) covers company crises, reorganisations and solidarity agreements that reduce hours to save jobs.
The wage integration fund (FIS) and sector solidarity funds have covered, since 2022, employers with at least one employee that fall outside CIGO.

Ordinary and extraordinary CIG together cannot exceed 24 months in any five-year rolling period for each production unit, or 30 months in construction.

How much employees receive

The supplement is 80% of the total pay the employee would have earned for the hours not worked, up to their contractual hours. It is capped: for 2026 the monthly maximum is €1,423.69 gross, or €1,340.56 net of the 5.84% reduction, and €1,708.44 gross for weather stoppages in construction and quarrying. The cap is updated every year in line with consumer prices. Executives are not covered, and employees need at least 30 days of actual work at the production unit.

What it costs the employer

Employers that use CIG pay an additional contribution on the pay lost for the hours not worked: 9% for use of up to 52 weeks in a five-year rolling period, 12% up to 104 weeks and 15% beyond. On top of this, they pay ordinary contributions that fund the schemes all year round, whether or not they use them.

Cassa integrazione when you hire through an EOR

When you hire through TopSource as your Employer of Record in Italy, the contributions that fund these schemes are part of the employer costs in Italian payroll, and they are included in the cost estimates we give you.

Frequently asked questions

How much does cassa integrazione pay in 2026?

80% of the pay lost for the hours not worked, up to a monthly cap of €1,423.69 gross (€1,340.56 net). The cap is €1,708.44 gross for weather stoppages in construction and quarrying.

How long can cassa integrazione last?

Ordinary CIG runs for up to 13 continuous weeks, extendable to 52 weeks. Ordinary and extraordinary CIG together cannot exceed 24 months in any five-year rolling period per production unit, or 30 months in construction.

Which employers are covered by cassa integrazione?

Industrial and construction companies use ordinary CIG. Since 2022, employers with at least one employee that fall outside CIGO are covered by the wage integration fund (FIS) or a sector solidarity fund.

Cassa Integrazione (Italy)