Skip to content With Circular No. 1 of 23 February 2026, the Italian National Labour Inspectorate has provided precise clarifications regarding Decree Law No. 159 of 31 October 2025. This Decree-Law illustrates “Urgent measures for the protection of health and safety in the workplace and in the field of civil protection”. This article provides an overview of the main points of the Decree-Law addressed by the circular, focusing especially on health and safety guidelines.
Contract or subcontract works
With a view to focusing more on sectors at greater risk of irregularities, Decree-Law 159/2025 reiterates the importance of inspections on employers conducting public or private subcontracting work. In addition, companies conducting activities classified as high-risk or operating on construction sites, under contract and subcontract work, must provide their employees with a special identification badge. This badge must be sent to the worker in digital format and must have a unique anti-counterfeiting code. Furthermore, the construction site badge is mandatory for self-employed workers and companies not necessarily in the construction sector but operating on construction sites under contract or subcontract work.
Activities requiring a Credit Licence
Decree-Law 159/2025 introduces important changes regarding activities subject to the Credit Licence. Specifically, it confirms the deduction of 5 points from the Licence for each undeclared worker reported during inspections. This deduction will apply regardless of the number of days of undeclared work conducted by the reported worker. Moreover, the deductions described above will only apply to offences committed from 1 January 2026 onwards.
In the absence of a Credit Licence or in the event of insufficient credits, companies or self-employed workers will be subject to an administrative penalty corresponding to 10% of the value of the works and exclusion from participation in public works for a period of six months. Unlike the deductions mentioned above, the penalties specified in this paragraph apply to violations committed after 31 October 2025.
Mandatory reporting requirements for employers
Amending Decree-Law 179/2021, Decree-Law 159/2025 introduces the obligation for companies to indicate their digital address for the receipt of official communications with legal value. This obligation falls specifically on sole administrators, managing directors or chairpersons of the board of directors.
A further amendment concerns Annex XII of Legislative Decree No. 81/2008. In particular, the preliminary notification sent by the contractor or project manager to the local health authority and the provincial labour office must include a clear indication of the companies operating as subcontractors, as well as their tax code or VAT number.
Personal protection measures
Further specifications are provided in Decree-Law 159/2025 regarding personal protection equipment. Specifically, employers shall maintain such equipment in good condition. Furthermore, they must ensure its correct identification and description in the Risk Assessment Document (DVR). The legislation also provides clarification on the correct use of permanent vertical ladders and fall protection systems. Moreover, the Decree extends the obligation to periodically train the Workers’ Safety Representative (RLS). Now this training also concerns individuals holding this position in companies with less than 15 employees.
Conclusions
The INL circular of 23/02/2026 and Decree-Law 159/2025 aim to establish more precise health and safety regulations on construction sites, with particular attention to sectors at high risk of irregularities. With a view to greater health surveillance and civil protection, the above legislation could constitute a turning point in the safety of workers and lead to closer cooperation between companies and inspection authorities.