Politiche attive e azioni positive per la conciliazione vita-lavoro

The research project carried out during the PhD focused on the inclusion and the permanence of women in the workforce. An attempt was made to understand the current role of women in the labour market, as well as examining changes and historical developments affecting their activity. Attention was also given to employment-related issues. In this respect, statistics as well as historical aspects draw a disheartening picture, with low shares of occupied women and GDP below the average. It has been estimated that the percentage of employed women is far below the European target of 60%. Another aspect which was discussed in the present work was work-life balance and accompanying social and economic changes; to do so, a review of the Italian regulatory framework was provided. Further, a comparison with European countries gave us an overview of the provisions in the field of work-life balance. Indeed, the reconciliation of family and work commitments has been one of the most important aspects also at a European level. Parental leave, policy coordination and soft laws are only some of the issues broached. The results of the comparison point to a major gap between men and women in Italy, which also depends of the geographical areas considered. EU legislation has made an attempt to protect women during pregnancy and breastfeeding, yet more should be done for this category of workers who are always considered at risk of exclusion.