On Friday 14 July, the Commission announced that it would be taking Italy to the Court of Justice of the European Union for failing to put an end to discrimination against foreign teachers/lecturers (‘lettori’), in breach of European rules on the free movement of workers.
Under EU law, European citizens exercising their right to free movement may not be discriminated against on grounds of nationality as regards access to employment and working conditions.
Italian law provides an acceptable framework for reconstructing the careers of foreign ‘lettori’ in Italian universities. To date, however, the majority of Italian universities have not taken the necessary steps to properly reconstruct the careers of the ‘lettori’. These measures consist of adjusting their salaries, seniority and corresponding social benefits to the level of those of a researcher on a part-time contract. They also include the right to back pay from the start of their employment.
As a result, most foreign-language ‘lettori’ have still not received the money and benefits to which they are entitled, explains a press release. The Commission opened infringement proceedings against Italy in 2021. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)