The agreement

On 29 July 2026, the Italian Agency for Public Administration Negotiation (Aran) and all representative trade unions signed the pre-agreement for the renewal of the national collective labour contract for the health sector, covering the 2025–2027 period. The deal affects 592,638 employees of the National Health Service: nursing, technical-health, rehabilitation and prevention, administrative, and support staff. The pre-agreement now goes to control bodies for certification of economic-financial compatibility before definitive signing.

Economic details

The contract provides an average gross monthly increase of €209, rising to €240 for nursing staff. Arrears, calculated as of 31 October 2026, average €1,226 for the whole sector and €2,300 for nurses. The overall increase over the three years is 7.76%, exceeding 8% for nurses. Emergency room personnel receive an additional €100 specific allowance. The budget law allocated €1.537 billion annually from 2027, with progressive increases already effective from 1 January 2025 and 1 January 2026. Additional resources include €445 million for a nursing specificity allowance, €193 million for a patient care allowance, and €35 million for emergency room staff.

New provisions: AI, cybersecurity, and disability manager

For the first time, the contract regulates the use of artificial intelligence in the workplace. Employers intending to introduce AI systems or automated algorithms affecting employment must provide employees with prior information on purposes, data processed, cybersecurity level, and potential impact on work organisation and performance evaluation. Aran president Antonio Naddeo stressed the core principle.

“The responsibility of those who decide cannot be delegated to an algorithm.”

The contract also introduces new professional roles: a cybersecurity manager and a disability manager, tasked with promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for people with disabilities. Additionally, an allowance is recognised for work in particularly demanding units such as intensive care, emergency-urgency, infectious diseases, dialysis, and home care.

Political and institutional reactions

Minister for Public Administration Paolo Zangrillo called the signing a "promise kept," noting that the entire round of public employment contract renewals for 2025–2027 has been completed.

“Those who care for the country deserve care. We renewed the health sector contract just nine months after the last renewal, confirming that those who take care of citizens every day deserve attention and concrete recognition.”

Health Minister Orazio Schillaci described the contract as "a further important signal of attention towards a strategic sector" and pledged to continue the economic enhancement of staff in the next budget law. Federico Riboldi, health assessor for Piedmont and coordinator of the Health Commission of the Conference of Regions, highlighted that the Meloni government has guaranteed the highest ever funding for the National Health Fund and that the contract represents a concrete step in valuing healthcare personnel.

“The Meloni government is showing it believes in public healthcare: it has guaranteed the highest ever funding for the National Health Fund and now, with the contract renewal, another step forward is taken in valuing healthcare personnel, with significant salary increases.”

Union responses

Trade unions expressed satisfaction, though some nursing unions voiced partial criticism. CGIL secretary Maurizio Landini noted that the agreement provides wage increases above estimated inflation, unlike the previous contract, and introduces a safeguard clause to adjust wages in case of deviations from inflation trends. CISL leader Daniela Fumarola called the deal "a result without precedent." However, Nursind argued that emergency room staff were penalised, and Nursing Up stated that the signing "is not a point of arrival" and that "important shadows remain that require political intervention."

Broader public sector context

With this pre-agreement, the government has completed the renewal of all public sector contracts for the 2025–2027 period, covering about 3.1 million of the 3.4 million public employees. Over the past four years, public employees have seen three contract renewals, with average salary increases of €408 gross per month. Minister Zangrillo attributed this to a €30 billion allocation that allowed negotiations with unions to proceed with adequate resources.

All staff (average)209

Nurses (average)240

Emergency room allowance100

All staff (average)

209 €/month

Nurses (average)

240 €/month

Emergency room allowance

100 €/month

Data from the article text