The Italian Council of Ministers published, in Official Gazette no. 302 of December 31, 2025, Decree Law No. 201 of December 31, 2025, containing – among other provisions – new safety measures for freelance journalists.
Implications for freelance journalists
Based on the decree law, freelance journalists registered with the Order of Journalists who practice their profession independently – and, therefore, not as subordinate workers – if sent to war zones or areas at high risk of armed conflict, must be trained in safety issues and must have adequate insurance coverage.
The training and the insurance shall be provided by the publishers who have engaged them.
On an experimental basis for the year 2026, the State will grant a contribution towards the cost of insurance and training. The publisher will have to send a specific request to the Department for Information and Publishing of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers.
Each publisher will be eligible for a total contribution of no more than €60,000. The maximum total expenditure for the year 2026 will be of no more than €600,000.
Travel risk management for publishers and businesses
Even in case of companies with subordinate workers, a well-organized travel risk management process guarantees the highest safety level for employees on assignment abroad and minimizes corporate liability.
Of course, risks may depend on the country of destination, as some geographical areas might be more dangerous than others, but, nevertheless, many issues can arise during a business travel. Employers are responsible for their employees according to the principle of employer duty of care.
In this regards, Studio A&P can provide a complete risk assessment service thanks to the use of our global mobility software Atlasposting.