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Following the example of the demerit driving licence, where the number of demerits decreases with the number of offences committed, the Italian government wants to introduce a demerit safety licence, initially for construction companies, with a possible extension to other sectors later.
On 10 July, Labour Minister Marina Calderone presented a first draft of the implementing decree for this system, which she hopes to have in place by October. The new measures to combat accidents include an increase in the number of inspectors and tougher penalties for irregularities. But “alongside the fight against those who do not comply with the rules, we must also recognise the many companies that work well, apply the rules and pay particular attention to safety standards in the workplace”, she said. A “list of virtuous companies” could also be drawn up.
The safety licence starts with a capital of 30 points, which can be increased to 100 points. For an accident resulting in disability, 10 to 15 points are deducted, for other offences 7 to 10 points and for a fatal accident 20 points. Serious offences can lead to the suspension of business activities. However, it is possible to recover points by taking training courses.
This initiative has attracted criticism, particularly from the CGIL and UIL unions, which consider the measure to be ineffective. In their view, even in the case of serious accidents or serious breaches of health and safety rules, a points-based licence will not be enough to close down a company. CGIL insists that labour inspectors should immediately suspend the licence in the event of serious accidents or non-compliance.
