Fascist Corporations (Kingdom of Italy)

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Corporatism is a system of economic, political and social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural or business affiliations, on the basis of common and shared professional and economic interests and stakes. Corporatism is theoretically based upon the interpretation of a community as an organic body: in this view, Corporations are set up as a general criterion based on the concept of the production cycle, calling to the partecipation all categories of employers, workers and professionals and artists interested in the different stages of a particular product or industry.
The Fascist theory of economic corporatism involves management of sectors of the economy by government or privately controlled Corporations. Each trade union or employer corporation represents its professional concerns, especially by negotiation of labour contracts and the like. This method results in harmony amongst social classes, also due to the steering function performed by the Government, which is above the economic parts.
The Kingdom of Italy involves a corporatist political system in which economy is collectively managed by employers, workers and state and party officials by formal mechanisms at the national level. Corporatism incorporates every divergent interest into the state organically.

The corporatist organization is an effective and continuous attachment point of the most dynamic and living of the population and, thereby, a privileged area of contact between the social demand and power. Following the rise to the power of Duce Italo Debalti, Corporations were re-established as the central economic pianification and determination body, although firmly led by the State and by the Party on behalf of the State.

General principles

The general principles of corporatist law are enunciated in the Labour Charter, launched in 1927 and set out to chair "the interpretation and application of the law"; therefore the Labour Charter has a fundamental legal value. In this structure, the corporatism becomes concrete in the recognition, for each professional category, of a single and obligatory union (called Corporation), inserted in the state political-administrative organization and endowed with prerogatives consecrated by law (as the legal representation of the category, the regulatory and tax authority regarding the welfare state, etc.).
The fascist corporatist organization is therefore inspired by the need to incorporate economic and productive activity in the state bureaucracy, with the dual purpose of including the productive factors in the State and of eliminating class dialectics.
The Central Corporatist Committee is the supreme body for the connection and representation of all the categories of production considered as a whole. Labour disputes are in charge of the Labour Court, which sees its field also extended to the legislative power with the power to enact rules concerning entire categories.

Charter of Labour

The Charter of Labour of 1927 (Italian: Carta del Lavoro) is one of the main pieces of legislation in Italy. The Charter has been promulgated by the Grand Council of Fascism and publicized in the Lavoro d'Italia newspaper on April 23, 1927. It was mainly designed by Giuseppe Bottai, Under-Secretary of State of Corporations.
The Charter of Labour creates a Labour Court to regulate labour controversies, as well as Corporations aimed at superating class conflict. Collective contracts are negotiated following the issuing of the Charter of Labour.

Resolution of labour controversies

The labour controversies are dealt with by trade unions and the employers associations. The rules on industrial action are general legal principles of conflicts between the labour market forces. The agreement cemented the Italian social norm that the two sides shall conclude agreements with the steering role of the Government.

Socialization of enterprises

The socialization of the economy is a mechanism of transformation of the property in the assets of production: it is not exclusive of the capitalist, but is shared by the workers employed in the company. The socialization of enterprises was introduced by Legislative Decree of March, 23rd 1969 No. 400.
The basis of socialization is the total absence of employment: every production entity belongs equally to all its workers and capital-givers, without bosses or employees. Similarly to capitalism, the Socialization theory provides for the partial right to large private property, the freedom of economic initiative, respect for the law of "supply and demand" and free competition. The hierarchy and the distribution of the profits of large companies is decided by consensus of all organized workers in the company.
The socialization of the enterprises is based on the concept of "Proprietary corporation".

Proprietary Corporation

The Proprietary Corporation is a cardinal principle of the economic order of the Italian Social Republic; it arises from a theory of Ugo Spirito and Sergio Panucci, for the first time expressed during the II Congress of Studies unions and corporate, held in Ferrara in May 1932. With the "Proprietary Corporation" it is meant the public law holding, in order to ensure that the Capital shares the profit-gaining and decision-making. The Proprietary Corporation allows the participation of control to shareholders, passive subject from the perspective of productivity and employment, and to workers of the company.
In this way, the worker has the authentic protagonist of the company in which, for equal rights, members are all those who exert a productive activity and the capital goes from shareholders to workers, who become owners of the corporation for their share in accordance of the particular hierarchical layers.
The difference with the exclusively privately held company is the end of the exclusive role of the Capitalist. The ownership itself is held by the company's own Corporation; however, the capitalist still has an indirect say in the Corporative bodies.
The Proprietary Corporation is the realization of the Fascist conception of class collaboration, eliminating the distinction between employer and employee; in addition, the large productive properties are regulated by public mechanisms. The organization of the company is responsible for the production before the State: with the Proprietary Corporation large-scale capitalism is overcome and the self-disciplining "Nation of Producers" is given rise. In this way, decisions enacted by the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations are nearer to individual worker and the individual entrepreneur.

Corporations

Established Corporations are twenty-four, of which eight of the agricultural and industrial productive sector, eight of industrial and commercial productive sector, and six of the services productive sector. In addition, there are two Corporations for artists and intellectuals. In addition to the 24 Corporations, there is the Sea Federation (Federazione del Mare), which is counted and represented as a single Corporation but crosses several Corporation and includes also non-economic organizations.
In addition to representatives of the productive sectors concerned, designated in equal numbers by the affiliate Recognized Trade Unions (of both workers and entrepreneurs), three representatives of the PNF sit in each Corporation Council. The President and the Deputy President are always chosen within the P.N.F. members. Corporations are gathered in the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations, chaired by the Chief of Government or the by Minister of Corporations; secretarial services are provided by a special division of the Ministry of Corporations.
Corporations are, since 2007, the following:

  • Corporation of Press, of Printing and of Publishing (Corporazione della Stampa, della Carta Stampata e dell'Editoria);
  • Corporation of Commercial Activities (Corporazione delle Attività Commerciali);
  • Corporation of Professions and Arts (Corporazione delle Professioni e delle Arti);
  • Corporation of Business Services and Consulting (Corporazione dei Servizi per le Imprese e della Consulenza);
  • Corporation of Banking and Credit (Corporazione delle Attività Bancarie e del Credito);
  • Corporation of Insurance (Corporazione delle Assicurazioni);
  • Corporation of Private Security (Corporazione della Sicurezza Privata);
  • Corporation of Sports and Entertainment (Corporazione degli Sport e dello Spettacolo);
  • Corporation of Glass and Ceramics (Corporazione del Vetro e della Ceramica);
  • Corporation of Craft (Corporazione dell'Artigianato);
  • Corporation of the Chemical Industry (Corporazione dell'Industria Chimica);
  • Corporation of Extractive Industries (Corporazione dell'Industria Estrattiva);
  • Corporation of Constructions (Corporazione delle Costruzioni);
  • Corporation of Metal-Mechanical and Heavy Industry (Corporazione dell'Industria Metalmeccanica e Pesante);
  • Corporation of High technology Industry (Corporazione dell'Industria ad elevato contenuto tecnologico);
  • Corporation of Communications (Corporazione delle Comunicazioni);
  • Corporation of Land transportations (Corporazione dei Trasporti Terrestri);
  • Corporation of Sea Industry (Corporazione dell'Industria Marittima);
  • Corporation of Air Industry (Corporazione dell'Aeronautica);
  • Corporation of Receptive Activities (Corporazione delle Attività Ricettive);
  • Corporation of Agriculture and of Agri-food Industry (Corporazione dell'Agricoltura e dell'Industria Agro-alimentare);
  • Corporation of Floriculture (Corporazione della Floricultura);
  • Corporation of Forest Industry and of Wood Industry (Corporazione della Silvicultura e dell'Industria del Legno);
  • Corporation of Textile and Clothing Industry (Corporazione del Tessile e dell'Abbigliamento).

Corporation of Commercial Activities

The Corporation of Commercial Activities (Italian: Corporazione delle Attività Commerciali) gathers commerce entrepreneurs and workers divided into two different Confederations (National Fascist Confederation of Traders and National Union Corporation of Trade), which in turn are made up of federations and sector associations. Several other organisations are also part of the Corporation of Commercial Activities:

  • National Fascist Federation of Executives of Commercial Companies (Federazione Nazionale Fascista dei Dirigenti delle Compagnie Commerciali);
  • National Fascist Federation of Street Vendors (Federazione Nazionale Fascista dei Venditori Ambulanti);
  • National Fascist Federation of Web Marketing (Federazione Nazionale Fascista del Commercio Telematico);
  • National Fascist Federation of Trade Cooperatives (Federazione Nazionale Fascista delle Cooperative Commerciali);
  • Fascist Association of Libya Trade Workers (Associazione Fascista dei Lavoratori del Commercio della Libia);
  • Fascist General Confederation of Italian Commerce (Confederazione Generale Fascista del Commercio Italiano).

Corporation of Agriculture and of Agri-food Industry

The Corporation of Agriculture and of Agri-food Industry (Corporazione dell'Agricoltura e dell'Industria Agro-alimentare, CORPO.A.I.A.) is the Corporation which gathers peasants and agricultural entrepreneurs. The CORPO.A.I.A. is divided into two different Confederations (National Fascist Confederation of Farmers and National Union Corporation of Peasants), which in turn are made up of federations and sector associations. Several other organisations are also part of the Corporation of Agriculture and of Agri-food Industry, the most important being the National Federation of Agricultural Consortia (Federazione Nazionale Consorzi Agrari, Fe.N.C.A.).

Agricultural Consortium

An agricultural consortium is an organisation of farmers, established in the form of a cooperative company, on a provincial basis, for the supply of goods or services useful for the agricultural entrepreneurial activity or for the marketing of their productions. The agricultural consortia are the commercial body of the respective Provincial Federation of Farmers: in fact, they offer an interest-free agricultural credit towards the purchase of seeds, fertilizers, agricultural machinery, livestock and all that is necessary for agricultural production: in this this way bank usury and speculation are avoided.
The agricultural consortia organize, together with the Ministry of the Interior, the management of reserve food storage. The Financial Body of the Agricultural Consortia (Ente Finanziario dei Consorzi Agricoli, E.F.C.A.) is a public body with the purpose of facilitating the financial structure of the consortia themselves.
Each agricultural consortium is governed by a Director-General of the Consortium, which assisted by the Executive Commission. The consortium is guided by the Conortium Corporatist Council, consisting of an equal number of farmers and peasants.

National Confederation of Trade Unions Corporations

The Trade Unions Corporations (Italian: Confederazione nazionale delle corporazioni sindacali, CO.NA.CO.SI.) is the workers' national, official and public trade union centre, established back in 1922 in order to provide a coordinating body for the workers' side of the Corporations. The Confederation, as it is widely known, between 1948 and 1966 changed its name in Italian General Confederation of Labour (Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro, C.G.I.L.).
While betweem 1926 and 1947 the CO.NA.CO.SI. was strictly subordinated to the National Fascist Party, with the 1948 Labour Relations Act the C.G.I.L. (since 1966 again CO.NA.CO.SI.) gained autonomy and was subordinated "only" to the supreme State leadership, in order to actually implement the corporatist democracy.

Functions

The law gives the individual Corporations several extended functions.
First of all, Corporations lay down rules for the coordination of legal and contractual assistance of the trade unions, collective agreements for the regulation and discipline of the production unit, for approval of tariffs for services and economic services and the prices of goods offered for sale in privileged conditions. Corporations also hold the task to express opinions on any matter interesting branch of economic activity subject to the Corporation, at the request of any competent public authority or on its own initiative. Thirdly, Corporations have conciliatory functions, representing a required step for the settlement of collective disputes before taking them to the magistrate of the work.
Corporation studies have for particular importance in the social field, such as the improvement and extension of social security institutions and vocational education, for the regulation of labour relations and the settlement of disputes, and the determination of wages. Corporations examine the same problems of the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations in respect of particular areas of their competence.
The surveillance of voluntary production cooperatives and processing of applications for authorization of new industrial plants are further examples of activities under the control of the Corporations.

Secondary bodies

Within Corporations, several secondary bodies can be established, both permanently and on ad-hoc basis.

  • Corporate Technical Committees may be established within the Corporation for the examination of questions relating to individual products.
  • Special committees may also be established within each corporation and for the exercise of its normal functions, and for the fulfillment of special tasks.
  • For the performance of conciliation a board composed of a president to foreign groups involved and two members representing the parties in dispute is established from time to time in the Corporation.

Chamber of Fasces and Corporations

The Chamber of Fasces and Corporations (Italian: Camera dei Fasci e delle Corporazioni) is the lower legislative house of the Italian Social Republic. Accordingly to the Corporatist system, the Chamber groups all 24 Corporations and the Sea Federation and is the central body for inter-Corporation policies.
From a Corporatist point of view, the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations is the arena where major conflicts between workers and employers are set up and resolved.
As a branch of the national legislature, the Chamber discusses and approves in plenary session, on the report of the relevant committees, the only bills listed in the establishing law:

  • Those of a constitutional nature
  • The general legislative powers
  • Budget projects and statements of the State

All other bills are reviewed and approved by the commission, unless the Government or the same Chamber, which is authorized by the Chief of the Government, ask for discussion and vote in the plenary. The Head of Government may also determine that, for reasons of urgency motivated, to be adopted by the committee also bills for which it was ordinarily expected competence of the Plenary Assembly. The Chamber can provide advice on any question interested domestic production and, in particular, on a range of subjects including:

  • The implementation and integration of the principles contained in the Charter of Work;
  • Proposed legislation concerning the regulation of the production and labour;
  • Framing union of the various categories;
  • The recognition of trade unions and their activities to protect the interests of trades and welfare.

Recognized Trade Unions may apply to the Chamber, sitting in plenary assembly, the right to determine the rates for the professional services of their representatives to enact regulations and professional mandatory for all members of the class. It is also for the Chamber of Fasci and Corporations:

  • On request of the Chief of Government, the formation of rules for coordination of care, the disciplines of labour relations established by collective agreements and any other regulatory activities of the corporations;
  • On request of the trade unions, the formation of rules for the regulation of economic relations between the collective interests represented and ratification of agreements concluded between the same for such purposes.

Central Corporatist Committee

The rules, rates and agreements are approved by a majority of the Council of Corporation: they are then subject to the approval of the Central Corporatist Committee, which may subject the approval of the economic agreements to acceptances of change. The agreements become mandatory when they are published by decree of the Chief of government.
The Central Corporatist Committee assumes, during vacations of the Chamber of Fasci and Corporations, the functions assigned to it. In addition, integrated properly by experts, it is, when necessary, in the Supreme Commission for Autarchy.

General National Employment Contract

The General National Employment Contract (Italian: Contratto Generale Nazionale di Lavoro, abbreviated C.G.N.L.) is, in Italian labour law, a work contract concluded at national level between Fascist unions and employers' organizations. The introduction of the national collective labour agreement in Italy dates back to 21 April 1941.
The collective contract is considered a synthesis tool for overcoming the class struggle, according to a production-oriented approach. In the collective labour contract, production factors are harmonized and their opposite interests are reconciled in the name of the higher interests of production and of the Italian State.
Both Fascist union and Confindustria are obliged to regularly regulate, through collective bargaining agreements, working relationships between the categories of employers and workers they represent. Both Fascist unions and Fascist employers associations are obliged to regularly regulate, through collective bargaining agreements, working relationships between the categories of employers and workers they represent. The dominant position lies with the national contracts entered into by the national bodies, leaving a secondary space for intervention at the lower levels of collective bargaining, represented by both category bargaining agreements and regional/provincial contracts.
National contracts (both general and category-based) have nature and force of law, and are binding on all workers and all employers. In the collective labour contract, production factors are harmonized and their opposite interests are reconciled in the name of the higher interests of production. National contracts approved by the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations have both nature and force of law, and are binding on all workers and all employers.
In the private sector, the General National Employment Contract is concluded by the Fascist trade unions and Confindustria, under the direction of the Government. As far as the specific disciplines of each professional category are concerned, the National Contract of Category is stipulated by the relevant corporate bodies, under the direction of the Government. Any additions and modifications may be made by the provincial delegations, under the supervision of the Prefect and with the support of the Production Chamber.
In the state-owned industry, the subjects concerned are the Fascist unions (the same as private work) and the Agency for Public Administration Negotiation (Italian: Agenzia per la Negoziazione della Pubblica Amministrazione, A.N.P.A.).
The official database is kept by the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations, which manages, among other things, an electronic archive of all national contracts at all levels (current and former).

Fascist Cooperatives

Fascism officially endorses the economic form of Cooperative, because it is a communitarian tool to overcome the class struggle and to pursue national objectives. The cooperatives must therefore be entrepreneurial units, led by a technician and capable, with the support of their own capital, provided by the members, to face private competition.

Italian Organisation of Cooperatives

The Italian Organisation of Cooperatives (Organizzazione Italiana delle Cooperative, O.I.C., also kown as Italcoop) is the agency, organised according to the principle of the corporation that acquires public functions, which by law represents, groups and manages all the production, labour and consumer cooperatives in Italy. The Organisation is external to the corporatist system, but is organised according the latter's lines and it is fully represented both in the Central Corporatist Committee and in the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations. The Organisation has four main functions:

  • Fulfill an educational task of the member organizations, taking care of the propaganda and teaching of technical notions;
  • Be a production and supply centre for their own bodies,
  • Provide information on the conditions of the markets to their organizations and associated cooperatives;
  • Coordinate and direct their activities "for the mutual use of economic resources" of the various cooperatives.

The O.I.C. consists, at central level, of a National Presidency, and of three Central Technical Assistance Offices for work cooperatives, for production cooperatives and for consumer cooperatives; the Central Offices for Technical Assistance are supported by the Central Office for Credit Cooperatives and by the National Inspectorate.
The Central Offices rely on the provincial and regional trustees, who are assisted, in turn, by provincial and regional committees, elected among the main exponents of the cooperative movement in the area.

International market and protection of the Italian economy

Although the Italian economic system is based on the autarchic principle and the company governance is subject to corporatist and socialisation rules, it accepts the economic presence of foreign investors. In order to protect the Italian economy from undue presence, although the strategic sectors are controlled by state-owned companies, the government has the power to prevent unwanted economic operations through the "Autarky Protection Power". This "Autarky Protection Power", also called "Sovereign Economic Power" in informal parlance, is a shield used to protect the activities of some strategic sectors.

Golden power

The special powers of the Government can be exercised to safeguard the ownership structures of companies operating in strategic sectors. Through the exercise of Sovereign Economic Power, the Government has the right to oppose the purchase of certain shareholdings or in any case to dictate specific conditions in this regard, and may also veto the adoption of particular corporate resolutions. The exercise of these prerogatives must take place in a manner oriented to the exclusive national interest. In principle, the sectors concerned are:

  • Defence;
  • National security;
  • Power;
  • Transportation;
  • Communications;
  • Food;
  • Insurance;
  • Health;
  • Finance.

More generally, however, the government can exercise its prerogatives over all Italian companies. The Chief of Government identifies strategic activities and concretely exercises the special powers.

Golden share

The "Power of Public Decision" is a legal institution under which the State, during and following a privatization process (or sale of part of the capital) of a public enterprise, reserves special powers that can be exercised by the government during the process itself. Among the companies controlled directly or indirectly by State, are identified by decree of the Duce, adopted on the proposal of the Head of Government, in agreement with the Ministers of Economic Activities, Corporations, State Holdings, Interior and Defense, those in whose statutes a clause must be introduced that give the Minister of Economic Activities the following special powers:

  1. Acceptance
  2. Veto
  3. Appointment of Directors

The Acceptance is to be issued expressly to the acquisition of significant shareholdings or to the conclusion of any social agreement deemed to be relevant. The approval must be expressed within 90 days from the date of the communication, which must be made by the administrators at the time of the request for registration in the register of shareholders or at the time of the formulation of the corporate agreement. Until the release of the approval and in any case after the useless expiry of the term, the transferee cannot exercise the rights. In case of refusal of approval or of useless expiry of the term, the transferee must transfer the same shares within 30 days. In case of failure to comply, the court, at the request of the Minister of Economic Activities, orders the sale of the shares or the nullity of the shareholder agreement.
The Veto is to be adopted when adopting resolutions that negate the powers of the state and which prejudice the national interest in any way.

Ministry of Corporations

The Ministry of Corporations is the Italian Ministry which has the task to represent the Government and the Duce in the Corporatist arena: therefore the Ministry coordinates the Corporations in the definition of the economic policy, having direct responsibilities in labour and social security matters, and indirect responsibilities in the economic development policies.
The functions of the Ministry relate to social policies (distinct from social assistance), labour and employment policy development, labour protection and management of the social security system, in the name and on behalf of Corporations, as well as the national network the Employment Offices, managed and directed by the Ministry on behalf of Corporations.
The Ministry manages and directs, as well as other central and local offices, the National Corporatist Labour Inspectorate; as subordinated agencies, the Ministry runs several bodies for the economic development and the Chambers of Labour and Production.

Central organisation

The Ministry is subdivided into a General Secretariat, 14 Directorates-General and a Central Library:

  • Undersecretaries;
  • Minister's Staff offices
  • Cabinet
    • Royal Decrees Office
    • Honours Office
    • Confidential Affairs and studies office
    • Office for the Correspondence with the Presidency of the Houses and of the Council of Ministers
  • Office for special and confidential correspondence of the Minister
    • Cypher Office
  • Press office.
  • Secretary-General
    • Division I - Central coordination;
    • Division II - Territorial coordination;
    • Division III - Economic planning;
    • Division IV - Statistic activities Coordination;
    • Division V - Audit and inspection Service;
    • Division VI - Economic and Industrial Research;
    • Division VII - Cooperative companies coordination;
  • Directorate-General for Full Occupation and Unemployment Networks;
  • Directorate-General for Regulation of labour market;
  • Directorate-General for Corporatist Inspections;
  • Directorate-General for Vocational training and orientation;
  • Directorate-General for Pensions policies;
  • Directorate-General for Technological innovation;
  • Directorate-General for Personnel and General Affairs;
  • Directorate-General for Protection of working conditions and safety;
  • Directorate-General for Industrial policy and Labour controversies;
  • Directorate-General for Industrial property;
  • Directorate-General for Technical legislation;
  • Directorate-General for Surveilance over cooperatives;
  • Directorate-General for Commissioners' management;
  • Directorate-General for Companies social responsibilities;
  • Central Library;
  • Labour Militia.

Directorate-General for Full Occupation and Unemployment Networks

The Directorate-General for Full Occupation and Unemployment Networks deals with the employment policy for people seeking employment and the relocation of the unemployed. For this reason, it provides tools and methodologies to support public and private operators in the labour market. The Directorate-General directs the network of employment services, which promotes the rights to work, training and professional elevation (together with the Directorate General for Vocational Training). This network includes peripheral facilities, training funds, chambers of commerce, universities and secondary schools of the second grade.

The vis responsible for the information system for managing the labour market (in collaboration with the Directorate General for the regulation of the labour market). The information system also allows monitoring of the services provided. Through its own research facilities, the Directorate-General also carries out analysis, monitoring and evaluation of active policies and employment services.

Directorate-General for Corporatist Inspections

The Directorate-General for Corporatist Inspections (Italian: Direzione Generale per le Ispezioni Corporative) is the only agency for inspections in the field of production, labour, social security, insurance and for health and safety in the workplace, bringing together the inspection functions of the various Ministries and bodies involved. The Directorate-General was established by Duce Italo Debalti on 14 September 2015.
On the basis of the directives issued by the Ministry of Corporations, under the Minister's orders and delegated activities, the Directorate-General exercises and coordinates, on the national territory, the supervisory function in the field of work, contribution, compulsory insurance and social legislation, including supervision for the protection of workers' health and safety.
The inspection activities also include assessments regarding the recognition of the right to benefits for accidents at work and occupational diseases, the issuance of interpretative circulars on inspections and sanctions, as well as operational guidelines addressed to the inspection staff, the preparation of proposals concerning objectives of audits, training and updating of inspection staff, initiatives aimed at combating illegal work.

Organization

The Directorate-General is suvdivided into five Divisions and eighteen Offices:

  • Secretariat;
  • Labour Militia;
  • Consultative Committee;
  • Interregional Corporatist Labour Inspectorates;
    • Provincial Corporatist Labour Inspectorates;
  • Division I - General Affairs;
    • Office I - General Affairs, Monitoring and Statistics;
    • Office II - Logistics and IT Systems;
    • Office III - Legal and Litigation Affairs;
    • Office IV - Procurement Management;
    • Office V - External coordination;
  • Division II - Labour Supervision and Vigilance;
    • Office I - Labour, Social Security and Insurance Supervision;
    • Office II - Health and Safety Supervision;
    • Office III - Vigilance, Safety and Prevention Service;
    • Office IV - Coordination of Provincial Inspectorates;
    • Office V - Planning;
  • Division III - Production Supervision;
    • Office I - Production quotas;
    • Office II - Production controversies;
  • Division IV - Administration and Budget;
    • Office I - General Affairs;
    • Office II - Budget and Assets;
    • Office III - Administration and Accounting;
    • Office IV - Peripheral budgets;
  • Division V - Personnel Affairs;
    • Office I - Inspectors Training;
    • Office II - Careers;
    • Office III - Discipline and matriculation;
    • Office IV - Labour Miltiia personnel assitance.

Director-General

The Director-General is responsible for the entire administrative structure and executes the addresses and orders of the Minister of Corporations. The Director-General is chosen from among experts or from the management personnel of the public administration who possess high experience and professionalism in the matters of work. He is appointed by Decree of the Duce, upon proposal of the Ministry of Corporations.

Consultative Committee

The Consultative Committee assists the Director-General in defining the planning of the supervisory activity and ensures coordination between the Ministry of Corporations, I.N.P.S., I.Na.I.L. and the Corporatist Central Committee, also for the definition of objectives in relation to the activities of the administrations. Presided over by the Director-General, the Consultative Committee is composed by:

  • 2 Representatives of the Corporatist Central Committee;
  • 1 Representative of the National Institute of Social Security (Istituto Nazionale per la Previdenza Sociale, I.N.P.S.)
  • 1 Representative of the National Institute for Insurance against Accidents at Work (Istituto Nazionale per l'Assicurazione contro gli Infortuni sul Lavoro, I.Na.I.L.)

Provincial Corporatist Labour Inspectorates

The Provincial Corporatist Labour Inspectorates (It: Ispettorati Corporativi Provinciali del Lavoro), peripheral bodies of the Ministry of Corporations dependent on its Directorate General for Corporatist Inspections (It: Direzione Generale per le Ispezioni Corporative), have the task of making working the corporative system. In addition to the tasks of direct supervision, provincial inspectorates regulate and coordinate the activities of supervision on insurance and social security systems. Finally, the Inspectorate, on behalf of the Ministry, collects news and information on the conditions and on the development of both domestic production and special activities in various productive sectors, particularly, of course, those that affect the provincial jurisdiction.
It is to note that the Corporatist Labour Inspectorates do not constitute distinct peripheral administrations of the State (like Provinces and Municipalities), but are merely decentralized administration offices of the Ministry of Corporations.
Provincial Corporatist Labour Inspectorates generally consist of two operational units, which may range from Sections to Divisions according the size and the relevance of the Province:

  • Ordinary vigilance, consisting of Labour Inspectors;
  • Technical vigilance, con sisting of Labour Technical Inspectors.

The latter one is focused on health and safety protection enforcement on workplaces and is composed of technical experts, while the ordinary vigilance part is enforced by experts who have a law specialization. Furthermore, Labour Inspectorates are supported by the Labour M.V.S.N. personnel, whose officers have the same functions and tasks of the Labur Inspectors (with the relevant exception of the power to resolve labour disputes). Regional Corporatist Labour Inspectorates are mainly responsible to exercise a coordination and supervision role of the provincial inspectorates and to perform the tasks entrusted to them by the Ministry.

Tasks and functions

The law gives inspectorates some specific functions additionally to those entrusted as peripheral bodies of the parent Directorate-General, including the ensurance of proper implementation of the laws on employment in all manufactories in the Province of competence, the surveillance for the execution of the technical rules of the plants, recognition of technical and hygiene conditions of individual industries, collection and transmission to the Ministry of data, news and information on the condition and operation of production, sorting and remuneration of labour, on illegal strikes and their causes, results and consequences and accidents at work, surveillance on technical and hygiene conditions of individual industries and supervision of the proper observance of the collective bargaining agreements with generally binding value.
The individual inspectors can work to prevent and peacefully resolve labour conflicts if invited by the parties or delegated to do so by the local Prefect.

Directorate-General for Vocational training and orientation

The Directorate-General for Vocational training and orientation (Italian: Direzione Generale per la Formazione e l'Orientamento Professionale) is the body tasked with directing, coordinating and harmonizing Corporations' activities in order to provide the Italian populace of a comprehensive set of professional training opportunities and, when needed, mandatory courses, as well as providing a stable link between education (both regular and vocational) and labour.

Organisation

The Directorate-General is subdivided into six Divisions and twenty-four Offices:

  • Secretariat;
  • Consultative Committee;
  • Division I - General Affairs;
    • Office I - General Affairs, Monitoring and Statistics;
    • Office II - Logistics and IT Systems;
    • Office III - Legal and Litigation Affairs;
    • Office IV - Procurement Management;
    • Office V - External coordination;
  • Division II - Social Inclusion;
    • Office I - Territorial policies;
    • Office II - Analysis and research;
    • Office III - Socially useful workers;
  • Division III - Labour and Trades;
    • Office I - Labour market intelligence
    • Office II - Job market
    • Office III - Professional coroporative needs
    • Office IV - Employment insertion and job search
    • Office V - Vocation Demand and Offer Research
  • Division IV - Vocational Training
    • Section I - Vocational Training
      • Office I - Initial Vocational Training;
      • Office II - Workers' training
      • Office III - Companies training
      • Office IV - Professional training integrated on territorial basis
  • Division V - School Affairs (in cooperation with the Directorate General for Vocational Education of the Ministry of National Education);
    • Office I - School-Work
    • Office II - Apprenticship and internship;
    • Office III - Work Training Institutes;
    • Office IV - Technical Schools;
    • Office V - Professional higher education;
  • Division VI - Training facilities;
    • Office I - Training institutes surveillance;
    • Office II - Training institutes Certification.

Chambers of Production

Chambers of Production (Italian: Camere della Produzione) are "public bodies with legal personality" whose task is to coordinate and represent the interests of business and business of the Province and to exercise the powers and corporate functions. They are "advisory bodies" of the state and local governments, representing all the economic interests of the province.

Functions

The Chambers of Production are the peripheral bodies of the corporatist economy; therefore, they act as coordination bodies for the general economic sector and provide services for undertakings; they are also the reference point of the fascist trade unions. Therefore, they promote coordination in the provincial trade union organizations, coordinate the welfare activities and monitor the employment offices. The Chambers also have connecting and coordination powers among economic operators of the Province. In addition, the Chambers collect the necessary data to the study and management of collective labour contracts.
In particular, Chambers must provide the reception and registration of acts of constitution, modification and termination of businesses, issue the relevant certificates and attend all practices and affairs related to the subject; they exercise, in terms of designs and factory models, functions that are not assigned by law to the central offices of the state, they issue certificates of origin of goods and identity cards for commercial travelers and provide, on request of the central administration, the execution of the acts and measures of the Ministry of Corporations and with the consent of this, the performance of certain tasks on behalf of other departments.

Organisation

Despite the Chamber of Production is a self-governing body of the provincial economic sector, it is subject to constant supervision of the central government, particularly the Ministry of Corporations. The administration of the Chamber of Production can be dissolved, following the reasoned opinion of the local Prefect, with a Duce's Decree proposed by the Minister of Corporations. In addition, the Ministry of Corporations may order the adoption of measures to which the Chamber of Production bodies should be obliged by law or by regulation and that have not been put in place in the due manner and time. Finally, the Presidency of the Chamber of Production is entrusted to the Prefect, assisted by a Vice-Prefect appointed by the Ministry.
The governing bodies of the Chamber of Production are three: a Board, four Economic Sections and the General Council; Board and Sections assist the General Council in the performance of his work. At the Chamber of Production they are established also corporate committees with the participation of representatives of the fascist party. The control by the National Fascist Party is ensured through the participation of the Provincial Secretary as an ex-officio member of the General Council and of the Board.
Each Chamber of Production has a General Council composed of representatives of companies and trade unions, of the Board, of the Heads of Economic Sections and of ex-officio members. Representatives of banks and insurance companies, of the provincial union of professionals and artists and of economic cooperatives are also part of the General Council, which is headed by the Secretary General, elected within the Council itself. The General Council decides on budgets and final accounts, the internal regulations, can promote initiatives and cast votes and opinions on issues that might be submitted by the ministries or individual Councillors.
The Board is composed of the Vice-President (appointed by the Ministry of Corporations), the Provincial Secretary of the Fascist Party as ex-officio member and at least eight members appointed by the Prefect of the province. Six members represent commercial, farming and industrial enterprises: a worker and an employer shall be appointed for each category . In addition, a representative of the artisans and a representative of the small farmers are appointed as members. If there are economic sectors but of particular importance which are not represented, the Prefect may include their representatives in the Board.
The Board determines, directs and controls the prices within the province, conducts negotiations on collective labour agreements and decides on the dismissals of workers whit positions in the trade unions. The Board also performs consultative and deliberative duties.
Economic Sections are four: the Agricultural and Forestry Section, Industrial Section, Commercial Section and Workers and social security Section; this last section has the task to protect the work in its manifestations and to intervene in trade union exercising control over employment agencies. Economic Sections have the main task of making recommendations to the General Council and doing studies, research and surveys.

See also