If you feel that you are a victim of discrimination, you can always take action to protect your rights through:
- a conciliation procedure provided for in the relevant collective contract or a conciliation attempt based on Article 410 of the Italian Criminal Code, which you can pursue through your trade union association or, in the case of gender discrimination, through the Equality Councillor of the Province or Region in which you work;
- an individual action before an employment tribunal or your local regional administrative court.
In the case of gender discrimination, you can bring an action directly or delegate a trade union, association or organisation representing the right or interest affected, as well as the Equality Council of the Provincial Region where you work to pursue the case on your behalf. Even if you decide to bring an action on your own, you can still ask the Councillor to intervene to support you in bringing your case.
You can also activate an emergency procedure through the Equality Councillor. Where the judge rules that discrimination is present, this allows you to quickly stop the harmful behaviour, remove the established effects of the discrimination and obtain compensation for damages within the limits of the evidence provided.
Equality Councillors may also takecollective action if they can identify gender discrimination involving multiple workers.
The Equality Councillors are all public officials established in each Province and Region. A National Equality Councillor also operates at central level and the contact details can be found at the following link:
https://www.lavoro.gov.it/temi-e-priorita/parita-e-pari-opportunita/focus-on/Consigliera-Nazionale-Parita/Pagine/default.aspx
If you believe that you have suffered discrimination on grounds of nationality, race or ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, age, religious or personal beliefs, you can contact theNational Office against Racial Discrimination (UNAR), set up within the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Prime Minister’s Office. The contact details are given below:
- freephone number: 800 90 10 10
- http://www.unar.it/
Relevant legislation
- Articles 409 and 410
- Articles 36-38 of Legislative Decree No 198 of 11 April 2006 ‘Equal Opportunities Code”
- Article 28 of Legislative Decree No 150 of 1 September 2011 ‘Additional provisions to the Code of Civil Procedure concerning the reduction and streamlining of civil actions under Article 54 of Law No 69 of 18 June 2009.’