Ferie (annual paid leave) in Italy is governed by D.Lgs. 66/2003, which implements the EU Working Time Directive. All subordinate employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks of paid leave per year. Of these four weeks, at least two must be taken consecutively during the calendar year in which they accrue, at a time agreed between employer and employee. The remaining two weeks must be used within 18 months of the end of the accrual year.
The right to annual leave is non-waivable: an employee cannot contractually renounce their leave entitlement in exchange for payment, except for leave accrued above the statutory minimum. Payment in lieu of untaken leave is only permitted upon termination of the employment relationship. Any employer who systematically prevents employees from taking leave within the permitted window may face administrative penalties.
Many CCNLs provide leave entitlements exceeding the statutory four-week minimum, particularly for senior employees and those with longer service. In addition to ferie, Italian employees benefit from eleven national public holidays (festività nazionali), during which they are entitled to full pay or, if required to work, to compensatory rest or a supplement as specified by the applicable CCNL.