Anpal

Anpal, officially the Agenzia Nazionale per le Politikhe Attive del Lavoro, is an Italian government agency responsible for coordinating and promoting active labor market policies nationwide. It operates under the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies and serves as the central body to guide, fund, and monitor programs intended to improve employment opportunities and workforce skills. The agency works in collaboration with regional and local authorities to implement national programs related to employment services, vocational training, apprenticeships, and wage subsidies, and to modernize the public employment system.

History and role: ANPAL was established as part of Italy’s reform of active labor market policies in the mid-2010s, consolidating functions that had been dispersed across regional offices and other agencies. It began operating to unify management of active labor market interventions and to coordinate with the Regions and autonomous provinces, as well as with social partners and European partners, to ensure coherent nationwide policy.

Functions and activities: Key tasks include designing and financing active labor market policies, managing the national network of employment services (including local employment centers), running national training and placement programs, monitoring labor market trends and outcomes, and administering European funds allocated for active policies. It also collects data and publishes labor market statistics to inform policy decisions and program design.

Organization: The agency is governed by a president and a board, with a general director overseeing daily operations. It administers funding through national and European programs and coordinates with the Regions, social partners, and educational institutions to implement active labor market measures.