«The Chamber approved the agenda presented by me which commits the Government to adopt the necessary regulatory initiatives to allow the Ministry of Culture to hire on a permanent basis the staff already employed on fixed-term contracts pursuant to article 50-ter of legislative decree no. 73 of 2021. It is a political and institutional step of great importance, which clearly indicates the path to follow to give a structural response to workers who have been suspended in uncertainty for too long” declares Andrea Gentile, deputy of Forza Italia, commenting on the Chamber’s green light to the agenda presented as part of the examination of the bill for the conversion of decree law no. 144 of 2026, containing urgent provisions for the functionality of the public administration and local authorities.
The act concerns approximately 320 workers hired through a selective procedure and operating for approximately three years in the offices of the Ministry of Culture of the “Convergence Objective” regions, mainly in Calabria. Their contracts, already extended to a total duration of 36 months, cannot be further extended.
The agenda commits the Government to adopt regulatory initiatives aimed at authorizing the Ministry of Culture, also within the limits of the hiring faculties available under current legislation, to initiate a confidential procedure for the permanent hiring of the personnel concerned. According to what is indicated in the act, the procedure must concern workers still in service at the Ministry who have completed at least 36 months of activity as of 31 December 2026, are in possession of the general requirements for access to public employment and have educational qualifications consistent with the area and professional profile envisaged by the Ministry’s regulations.
«We ask – underlines Gentile – the start of a serious and definitive regulatory process. These people, even before being hired on a fixed-term basis, had already completed training and work courses in the same offices. They have accumulated skills, experience and years of service that go well beyond the formal duration of current contracts. Wasting such professional assets would be unfair to the workers and harmful to the administration.”
The staff concerned guarantees the daily functioning of the museums and other territorial services of the Ministry, contributing to the protection and enhancement of the cultural heritage, its enjoyment by citizens and the development of the tourist offer. The agenda also recalls the path already followed for workers hired through the same provision at the offices of the Ministry of Justice.
«With the approval of this act, Parliament entrusts the Government with a specific commitment. Now it is necessary to translate it into a regulatory provision capable of concretely authorizing the hiring procedure. We will follow every step with the utmost attention (the deed was also signed by my colleague Giovanni Arruzzolo), because the legitimate expectations of these workers must correspond to certain times and consequent actions”.
«The result achieved confirms the concreteness of Forza Italia’s action and the ability of our party to transform listening to the territories into parliamentary initiatives. Now we will continue to work with the president of the Calabria region Roberto Occhiuto and the regional secretary Francesco Cannizzaro, who have always been attentive to the needs of workers, so that the commitment made by the Government is implemented through the necessary regulation and the procedure can be started without unnecessary delays”.
«Our commitment – concludes Gentile – continues with even greater determination. Culture and heritage protection cannot rest on the uncertainty of those who, every day, provide essential services to the State and communities. Stabilizing these professionalisms means recognizing the work done, guaranteeing continuity to the offices and strengthening Calabria’s ability to safeguard and enhance its extraordinary cultural heritage.”