Italy Launches New €7.5 Million Initiative Linking Family-Friendly Workplaces With Business Growth
Rome, September 1, 2026: Italy has announced a new €7.5 million programme designed to help businesses introduce stronger policies for balancing professional responsibilities with family life, while encouraging companies to view employee wellbeing as a driver of productivity and competitiveness.
The initiative has been developed by the Italian government’s departments responsible for family policy and equal opportunities in cooperation with Unioncamere, the country’s chamber-of-commerce network. The programme aims to help around 1,000 companies obtain a new work-life balance certification within one year.
New Certification for Businesses
At the centre of the programme is UNI/PdR 192:2026, a technical framework establishing requirements and performance indicators for company management systems focused on reconciling family and professional life.
Businesses operating in Italy with at least one employee will be eligible to seek assistance under the initiative. A special allocation of 60% is reserved for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises.
Financial Support for Companies
The government-backed programme will provide assistance through two main channels.
Companies can receive technical and managerial support to prepare for certification. The initiative will also contribute toward the cost of obtaining the first certification from an accredited certification body.
Depending on company size, support for certification can reach €12,000 per business.
Businesses to Be Tested Before Support
Companies seeking assistance will first complete an online self-assessment designed to determine their existing level of preparedness in areas related to work-life balance.
The government says the programme is intended to encourage companies to create working environments that are more supportive of employees with family responsibilities.
Government Links Employee Wellbeing With Productivity
Italian authorities are presenting the initiative not simply as a social policy measure but also as an economic one.
Data cited by the government show that companies investing in employee wellbeing and better work-life management have reported stronger business performance. In 2026, 35% of such businesses reported higher turnover than the previous year, compared with 22% among companies that had not made comparable investments.
The same data indicate that employment growth and adoption of digital technologies are also more common among businesses placing greater emphasis on workplace wellbeing.
Applications Open in September
Eligible companies will be able to submit applications through the Restart platform operated by Infocamere from 10:00 on September 21, 2026.
Applications will be processed in chronological order, while approved certification and support programmes must be completed by June 30, 2027.
A New Link Between Social Policy and Business Strategy
Italy’s latest initiative reflects a broader effort to connect family support with economic competitiveness.
By encouraging businesses to introduce measurable work-life balance practices, Rome hopes to make workplaces more attractive to employees while helping companies improve productivity, retain talent and strengthen their long-term performance.
The programme also forms part of Italy’s National Family Plan 2025–2027 and the National Gender Equality Strategy 2021–2026, giving the new certification a wider policy role beyond individual businesses.
