Italian restorers protest precarious contracts, plan sit-in at Ministry of Culture

Precarious workers at the Istituto Centrale per il Restauro (ICR) have sent an open letter to Italian Minister of Culture Dario Franceschini denouncing inadequate contracts, lack of professional recognition, and inefficient generational turnover. They announce a sit-in on May 25, 2021, starting at 10:00 AM, near the Ministry in Rome. The letter highlights that many workers have been employed for years through autonomous and parasubordinate collaborations, performing the same tasks as permanent employees but without rights such as sick leave, holidays, maternity leave, and pension contributions. The ICR has faced a shortage of personnel due to retirements and lack of new hires through public competitions; the last competitions in 2016 and 2019 only partially addressed the need. The workers argue that their expertise is being devalued by cost-saving policies that rely on precarious contracts, and they call for a national program to reintegrate staff into the Ministry of Culture. They warn that continued precarity will harm long-term planning, training, and knowledge transfer at the institute, which is crucial for Italy's cultural heritage. The protest follows similar actions by workers in the performing arts, artists, and tour guides, all demanding fair recognition and contracts.