Italy To Change Law On Women’s Employment

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29828, 22 May 1962, Page 2

Italy To Change Law On Women’s Employment

(From a Reuter Correrpondent]

ROME. Italy’s working girls were jubilant this Easter—no longer will their bosses be able to fire them tor getting married. Marriage, moreover, will mean a year’s guaranteed employment. “Forced spinsterhood” and "incitement to concubinage” were some of the tags applied to the situation in which girls were usually dismissed as soon as they were wed. The Turin newspaper "La Stamps ” has reported that the following letter is typical of many it had received: “The firm where I work has told me I will be fired if I get married. Very well then, since my wages are necessary, I am going to live

with my fiance without getting married.” Now, after talks with trade unions and other industrial and social groups, the Cabinet has approved a draft law to deal with the situation. The draft—which is assured of a clear passage through Parliament—is understood to provide that no-one may be dismissed tor getting married and that any contracts specifying that marriage means automatic termination of employment will be null and void.

Any dismissal within one year of marriage will be presumed to be on account of it, whatever reasons the employer may give. An employer found guilty of having arbitrarily sacked a girl because she marries will be obliged to re-employ her and pay all arrears of pay, allowances, and social security contributions. Even if a young wife decides that she does not wish to take advantage of this assurance of her job back, she will be entitled to full severance pay and indemnity. The object of these provisions is to make the dismissal of newly married workers uneconomic.