One thing about Italy first, because it differs from Spain and Portugal: Italy has no statutory minimum wage. What you are owed comes from the collective agreement (CCNL) for the sector you work in. We print no figure on this page — we tell you where the figure lives and how to look at it.
Where your pay is written down
CCNL — Contratto Collettivo Nazionale di Lavoro
Every sector in Italy has its own national collective agreement — the CCNL — and the minimum pay for each grade (livello) is written in it. Restaurants, construction, agriculture and domestic work each have their own. [VERIFY] — find the CCNL for your sector and your livello; CNEL keeps the official archive of them. The direct question to ask an employer is: “Quale CCNL si applica e quale livello?” — which CCNL applies, and which grade? Not getting an answer is itself a signal.
Reading your busta paga
Every month you should receive a busta paga. It is proof that you worked, at what grade, and for how much. Keep them — a PDF or a photo counts if you get nothing on paper.
| Livello / Qualifica | Your grade. The minimum pay is tied to it — check it against the CCNL. |
|---|---|
| Retribuzione lorda | Gross pay, before deductions. |
| Paga base | Base pay. |
| Straordinari | Overtime. If you worked extra and this line is empty, ask. |
| Contributi INPS | Social security. If the line does not exist at all, you are probably working "in nero". |
| IRPEF | Income tax. |
| Netto in busta | The net amount. This is what should reach your account. |
In Italy wages should normally be paid through a bank rather than in cash by hand. [VERIFY] — ask a patronato for the detail. Keep your own daily record of hours as well.
If you are not paid
You can claim unpaid wages even without documents. Under Italian law pay is still owed for work actually done, even where the work was not properly authorised — the work happened, so the wages are due. [VERIFY] — confirm the principle and any time limit with a patronato, a union such as CGIL, or a lawyer; we print no period and no figure. At a patronato the advice is free.
Where to get free help
- Patronato — [VERIFY] — we could not confirm a stable official list of approved patronati; the link is the Ministry of Labour. A patronato does not charge you for this kind of help.
- CGIL — A large trade union, with dedicated migrant offices.
- Ispettorato Nazionale del Lavoro — The national labour inspectorate. A complaint can be filed here.
Severe exploitation and forced labour
The system of illegal labour brokers in the fields and on building sites is called caporalato, and it is a crime in Italy. There is a free state line for it and for trafficking. [VERIFY] — we are not printing the number because we could not confirm it. In an emergency, call 112.
Common mistakes
- Not asking for the busta paga. It is the first document in any claim.
- Not asking which CCNL and which livello apply. That is what fixes your pay.
- Treating “in nero” work as normal. If the work was done, the wages are still owed.
- Deleting WhatsApp messages. Conversations about hours and money are evidence.
Next step
If the problem is documents rather than pay, first check that whoever is advising you is on a register — and remember that much of this is free at a patronato.
Italy: check your adviser before you paySources
Where you see [VERIFY] we have deliberately printed no figure or condition, because we could not confirm it against an official source. Check that point yourself on the official page below.
Last verified: 2026-09-04
