by Easter, Italian banks they will advance to the workers up to 1.400 euros of ordinary layoffs and in derogation granted by the government for the coronavirus emergency and will be later reimbursed by INPS. In this way, the times for processing the practices, which usually require 2-3 months, are reduced. Individual lenders will be able to decide whether to pay the money into an ad hoc current account. As for the lump sum, the 1.400 euros refer to 9 weeks off work at zero hours and can be reduced if the interruption lasts for less time or the employee's contract is not full-time. If, on the other hand, the total amount of the Cig is greater than 1.400 euros, the bank will integrate the difference, once the extra resources have been collected from INPS "within a maximum of 7 months".
This, in summary, is the content of the agreement signed between the government, banks and social partners. Various acronyms between associations and trade unions participated in the video discussion with the Minister of Labour, Nunzia Catalfo: Abi, Confindustria, Confagricoltura, Confcommercio, Confasartigianato, Coldiretti, Alliance of Cooperatives, Casartigiani, Cia, Claai, Cna, Confapi, Confedilizia, Confetra , Cgil, Cisl and Uil, Ugl, Fisac, First, Uilca, Fabi and Unisin.
In detail, the provision concerns all employees (including working members, agricultural and fishing workers) of companies that have applied for zero-hour layoffs by applying for direct payment from INPS. It makes no difference if the request was sent before the general go-ahead from the government to the Cig for the coronavirus emergency. The workers involved are potentially 10 million, if sole proprietorships are also taken into consideration. In all, they have been allocated 5 billion euros.
To reduce attendance at the branches as much as possible (which fall one of the few businesses still open), the banks will favor the use ofhome banking by the redundant workers. The institutes have also undertaken to apply particularly favorable conditions: the workers will not have to do anything and the operation will be free for them. No charges, no interest.
But be careful: the agreement provides that, if after seven months INPS has not returned the advance sum to the bank, the institution will be able to request the entire amount from the worker, who will have 30 days to pay off the debt. If he doesn't do it – and unless the guarantee funds envisaged by some local Autonomies intervene in the meantime – the bank will be able to contact the employer.
The agreement between banks, social partners and the ministry will remain in force until December 2020. The signatories will take stock of the situation in November.
