Italian AFAM institutions face crisis as co.co.co contracts banned

Since July 1, 2019, Italian Academies of Fine Arts, Conservatories, and other AFAM institutions have been barred from using co.co.co (collaborative) contracts for teaching staff, under Article 7, paragraph 5bis of Legislative Decree 165/2001. The ban has caused widespread disruption: many courses have been suspended, students risk losing scholarships or delaying graduation, and support staff (tutors, disability assistants, live models) are missing. Teachers have been forced into atypical contracts such as partita IVA or 'contratto d'opera intellettuale'. In response, on October 29, 2019, a coordination of precarious workers was formed at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo with CGIL support. Two letters were sent to Education Minister Lorenzo Fioramonti demanding a solution. On December 12, 2019, an amendment by M5S's Loredana Russo was approved in the Senate Budget Committee, allocating €1.5 million over three years for disabled student services and €10 million to compensate for the no-tax area, and allowing co.co.co contracts again but with a maximum duration of three years. Russo called it a temporary measure. The broader issue remains the lack of university status for AFAM institutions, as noted by former directors Salvo Bitonti and Tiziana D'Acchille.