Lavoratori

Lavoratori is the plural of lavoratore, a term that denotes a person who performs work or is employed to perform work in exchange for wages or salary. The word spans manual labor and professional activities and is used in economic, social, and legal contexts. It derives from the verb lavorare, which comes from Latin laborare, meaning to work.

Lavoratori can be grouped into categories such as lavoratori dipendenti (employees under an employment contract), lavoratori autonomi (self-employed), and lavoratori atipici (non-standard contracts) including part-time, fixed-term, temporary agency workers, and gig workers. The classification affects rights, obligations, and access to social protection.

In Italy, the legal framework includes the Constitution, which recognizes the right to work, the Codice Civile, and specific labor laws such as the Statuto dei Lavoratori (law 300/1970). The system of national collective bargaining agreements (CCNL) sets sector-specific rules. Workers have rights to fair remuneration, safe and healthy working conditions, reasonable working hours and rest, maternity/paternity protections, and social security. Unions (sindacati) play a central role in representing workers and negotiating terms.

Contemporary developments include the expansion of remote and platform-based work, which raises questions about classification, protections, and labor rights. The concept of lavoratori thus encompasses a broad range of paid labor in modern economies, with ongoing legal and policy evolution. The Festa dei Lavoratori on May 1 is a public observance that acknowledges the contributions of workers.