Italy’s Minimum Wage Debate: Why Tuscany’s Law Was Challenged

The debate over introducing a minimum wage in Italy has reignited after the Italian government challenged a new law passed by the Region of Tuscany. While the issue has become politically charged, the core of the debate is about workers’ rights, economic competitiveness, and the balance of powers between national and regional authorities.

What is the minimum wage and does Italy have one?

Unlike most European Union countries, Italy does not have a universal statutory minimum wage. Instead, salaries are regulated through collective bargaining agreements negotiated between trade unions and employers’ associations. These contracts, which vary by sector, often establish minimum salary thresholds, but these thresholds are not uniform across all professions and not legally binding outside of those contracts.

Over the past decade, various political parties and social movements have called for a national minimum wage, with figures ranging from €9 to €10 gross per hour often proposed. Supporters argue it would protect workers in precarious or low-paid jobs, especially in sectors not covered by strong collective agreements. Opponents fear it could disrupt the existing system of sectoral bargaining, increase costs for businesses, or reduce employment opportunities.

The Tuscan law: a regional step in a national debate

In June 2025, Tuscany passed a regional law (Law No. 30 of June 18, 2025) that does not establish a general minimum wage but introduces specific requirements for companies bidding in public tenders.

The law applies to regional public contracts with high labor intensity, such as cleaning, maintenance, or social services, when contracts are awarded based on the most economically advantageous offer. Under this law, companies that guarantee a minimum gross wage of at least €9 per hour to their workers receive a higher evaluation score, effectively encouraging better labor standards.

The intent, according to the regional government, is to reward companies that offer fair pay and avoid a “race to the bottom” where the lowest cost wins at the expense of workers’ rights and dignity.

A Strategic Move Before the Ballot

The new law also comes at a politically sensitive moment. Regional elections are expected in Tuscany this autumn, and incumbent president Eugenio Giani, a member of the Democratic Party (PD), is seeking to secure his position as the centre-left candidate.

Over the past weeks, Giani has shifted parts of his political agenda to the left, in an apparent effort to appeal to the Five Star Movement (M5S), which has been in opposition throughout the current legislature.

A renewed alliance with M5S could prove essential to his reappointment, as PD national leader Elly Schlein is expected to base her endorsement on a broader progressive coalition.

Government reaction: the law is unconstitutional

On August 5, the Council of Ministers (Italian Cabinet) led by Giorgia Meloni of Fratelli d’Italia (the main party in the center-right coalition) announced it would challenge the Tuscan law before the Constitutional Court. According to the government, the law violates Article 117 of the Italian Constitution, which reserves the regulation of competition and economic policy to the national government.

In its official statement, the government claimed that regional interference in wage policies linked to public procurement could distort fair competition and create inconsistencies across Italy.

A politically charged response

Although the government’s move is based on legal grounds, the issue quickly became political. Supporters of the Tuscan law argue that ensuring decent pay in publicly funded contracts is a moral and social responsibility, not a threat to competition.

Regional president Eugenio Giani defended the law, calling it “a civil rights measure aimed at protecting dignity in the workplace.” He announced that Tuscany will oppose the government’s challenge in court.

On the national stage, Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein criticized the government for opposing a law “that helps families struggling with low wages and high bills.” She reaffirmed the party’s support for a national minimum wage and promised to keep it on the political agenda.

Opposition parties, including Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy), countered that regional laws cannot override national frameworks and questioned the consistency of left-wing unions and politicians in applying fair wage standards.

What’s next?

The Constitutional Court will now have to rule on whether the Tuscan law is compatible with national legislation and the Italian Constitution. Meanwhile, the broader debate over a national minimum wage continues, with proposed laws still pending in Parliament and growing pressure from trade unions and civil society.

At stake is not only the legal status of a regional measure but also the future direction of labor rights in Italy—whether wage protections should be centrally enforced, locally incentivized, or left to collective bargaining traditions.

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