Governance

The Ministry of Labour and Social Policies designs, implements, and coordinates interventions on labour policy, social security adequacy, and social policies, with particular focus on preventing poverty and distress. Key functions include:

• Social safety nets and unemployment treatment
• Social security and pension policies
• Poverty reduction and social planning
• Integration policies through the General Directorate of Immigration and Integration Policies
• Third sector promotion through the General Directorate of the Third Sector and Corporate Social Responsibility

Following the suppression of the National Agency for Active Labour Policies (ANPAL) on 1 March 2024, all functions related to active labour policies, coordination of interventions for job-seekers, and management of unemployed persons relocation have been transferred to and absorbed by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies.

The Network for Social Protection and Inclusion (Rete della protezione e dell'inclusione sociale), established in 2017, coordinates interventions and services, chaired by the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies with representatives from regions, autonomous provinces, local authorities, and INPS (National Institute for Social Welfare).

Regional authorities implement planning aligned with national strategies, promoting socio-economic development through Regional Operational Plans (POR). They attend national interventions with active policies, facilitate corporate involvement, and reinforce social and healthcare service quality.

Third sector organisations mediate between actors defining interventions and represent territorial needs, performing functions of mediation and supporting public institutions.

Cross-sectoral cooperation

The Network of  Social Protection and Inclusion (Rete della protezione e dell'inclusione sociale), established in 2017 and chaired by the Minister of Labour and Social Policies, serves as the coordinating body for the social intervention and services system. The Network comprises representatives from national, regional, and local government levels, including one representative per Region and Autonomous Province, 20 municipal representatives designated by ANCI (National Association of Italian City Councils), representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport, and the Department for Family Policies of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. INPS (National Institute for Social Welfare) participates as a permanent invited member.

The Network develops and adopts comprehensive national planning instruments. The National Plan for Social Interventions and Services 2024-2026 was adopted on April 2 2025, superseding the previous 2021-2023 Plans. This unified plan is structured in three sections:

1. General Framework (Quadro di riferimento): Overall context for social policy planning
2. National Social Plan 2024-2026: Programmatic tool for National Social Policy Fund resources, defining interventions and services necessary for progressive implementation of Essential Levels of Social Services (LEPS) guaranteed throughout Italy.
3. National Plan for Social Interventions and Services to Combat Poverty 2024-2026: Programmatic tool for Poverty Fund resources, financing interventions and services for Inclusion Allowance beneficiaries and families in similar economic distress, including priority actions for people experiencing extreme poverty and homelessness

The National Programme for Inclusion and the Fight against Poverty 2021-2027 (PN Inclusione e lotta alla povertà 2021-2027), promotes social inclusion and poverty reduction through an integrated approach. The Managing Authority is the Directorate-General for the Fight against Poverty and Social Planning of the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies - Division III. The programme is structured around four thematic priorities: 

1. Support for social inclusion and fight against poverty, 
2. Child Guarantee, 
3. Combating material deprivation
4. Infrastructure interventions for socio-economic inclusion, plus two Technical Assistance priorities