100% parental leave for public employees of Local Authorities is a right guaranteed by the National Collective Labor Agreement (CCNL) Local Functions. Compared to national legislation, which provides for an allowance equal to 80% of the salary for the first month, civil servants of Local Authorities enjoy more favorable treatment, receiving 100% of their salary for the first month of parental leave. Below, we explain in detail how it works, who is entitled to it and how to obtain
it.
100% compensation for Parental Leave
For public employees belonging to Local Authorities, parental leave is paid at 100% for the first 30 days in total, which can be used continuously or divided by the child’s 12th birthday, or within 12 years of joining the family in case of adoption or custody.
Parental leave is a right for both mother and father, following the use of compulsory maternity or paternity leave. The total length of leave is 10 months, divided between the two parents, with the possibility of extending them to 11
months under special circumstances.
Who Can Benefit from 100% Parental Leave?
Public employees of Local Authorities, that is, those who work in municipal, provincial, regional and other territorial public bodies, fall into the Local Government sector and can benefit from 100% paid parental leave. In particular, the CCNL Local Functions applies to non-executive personnel with an indefinite or fixed-term employment relationship
.
The entities included are:
•Regions with ordinary statute and public bodies dependent on them.
•Provinces, Metropolitan Cities, and other local authorities.
•Municipalities, Mountain Communities and Consortia.
•Public personal services companies and Chambers of Commerce.
How Does Parental Leave Work for Local Government Employees?
Parental leave for public employees of Local Authorities follows the same general rules as ordinary parental leave, but with a substantial difference: the first month is paid at 100% of the fixed monthly salary, including the thirteenth and recurring ancillary treatments. Allowances for overtime work or for benefits under disadvantaged conditions are excluded from the calculation
.
From the second month, if the leave is taken within 6 years of age of the child, the salary drops to 80%, and for the following months (up to the seventh month) to 30%. Beyond 9 months, the leave is not paid, unless the parent falls into certain income brackets (less than 1,536.93 euros per month in 2024), in which the benefit is extended even beyond the ninth
month.
Limits and Duration of Leave
Parents are entitled to a maximum of 10 months of total parental leave (which can be raised to 11 if the father takes at least 3 months), to be used within the first 12 years of the child’s life or after entry into the family in case of adoption. However, only the first 30 days are 100% paid, while the rest of the period is subject to different wage or unpaid percentages, depending on the time at which it is used and the parent’s income situation
.
How to Apply for Parental Leave
To obtain 100% parental leave, civil servants of Local Authorities must submit an application to the INPS, following these methods:
• Online: By accessing the INPS portal with SPID, CIE or CNS.
• INPS Contact Center: Through support numbers.
• Patronage: With the assistance of patronage bodies.
In addition, it is also mandatory to notify the employer of the request for leave, with a minimum notice of 5 days (or 2 days for split leave on an hourly basis).
100% parental leave for public employees of Local Authorities represents a particularly advantageous measure compared to that provided for most Italian workers. Thanks to the CCNL Local Functions, parents employed by local public bodies can enjoy higher economic support during the first month of voluntary abstention
from work.
This measure is part of the policies aimed at ensuring better working conditions for public employees, promoting a balance between private and professional life, especially in a delicate phase such as that of raising children.
