On Sunday, June 8, and Monday, June 9, 2025, Italian citizens eligible to vote will be called to the polls to express their choice on five abrogative referendums as provided for by Article 75 of the Constitution. The questions, declared admissible by the Constitutional Court on January 20 concern key issues related to labour and citizenship. 

Four Referendums on Labour

Promoted by the CGIL trade union and supported by 4 million signatures, the first four referendum questions aim to strengthen workers’ rights and amend certain rules introduced by the Jobs Act and subsequent reforms.

The specific questions are:

• “Employment contract with increasing protections – Unlawful dismissals: Repeal”;
• “Small businesses – Dismissals and related compensation: Partial repeal”;
• “Partial repeal of rules on fixed-term contracts, maximum duration, and conditions for extensions and renewals”;
• “Repeal of the exclusion of joint liability of client, contractor, and subcontractor for injuries suffered by employees of subcontracted firms due to specific risks of the contracted activities”

These referendums seek to restore job reinstatement for workers unfairly dismissed, going beyond the simple financial compensation currently provided; remove the cap of six months’ salary on compensation for unfair dismissals in small businesses; ensure fairer and more transparent fixed-term contracts, limiting abuses and reducing job insecurity and finally enhancing health and safety protections on worksites and in subcontracting chains, by reintroducing joint liability of client, contractor, and subcontractor in cases of work-related injuries.

One Referendum on Citizenship

• “Italian citizenship: Reduction from 10 to 5 years of legal residence in Italy required for non-EU adults to apply for citizenship”.

The fifth question, promoted by the party +Europa, proposes to reduce the period of legal residence required for non-EU adults to request Italian citizenship from 10 to 5 years.

This reform would bring Italian citizenship law in line with many European countries, promoting greater social integration for long-term residents. It would also allow faster access to civil and political rights, such as the right to vote, eligibility for public employment, and freedom of movement within the European Union 

Participation Is Key to Validity

As abrogative referendums, they require the quorum to be met in order to be valid: at least 50% + 1 of eligible voters must go to the polls. This is a crucial opportunity for democratic participation, allowing citizens to directly shape the future on issues related to fundamental rights and the direction of Italian society.