Shoot from tomorrow, Tuesday October 1stthe points-based driving license intended for companies and self-employed workers who work on construction sites. The tool, introduced by the government with Decree-Law No. 19/2004, aims to improve safety in the workplace, fight against illegal work and better monitor accidents that occur on construction sites, both in terms of number and gravity. Starting today, businesses and self-employed workers will be able to submit a request to the labor inspectorate apply for a points-based driving license. While waiting to receive it, you can always send a self-certification regarding the necessary requirements. A mechanism that, according to the government's intentions, will serve to prevent all interested parties – approximately 830 thousand – from simultaneously accessing the platform.
Who needs to get a driving license with points
From the October 1, 2024 all companies – even individual and even those with headquarters outside Italy – that operate in the construction sector will be able to present a self-certification of compliance with the requirements for obtaining the points license. The request must be submitted by the legal representative of the company or by the self-employed worker no later than October 31.under penalty of being prohibited from operating on construction sites and stopping all work activity. All people who provide services of an intellectual nature, such as engineers, architects and surveyors, are excluded from this new system.
What are the conditions for obtaining a construction permit?
To obtain the new points license, companies must meet the following conditions:
- registration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture;
- compliance by employers, managers, supervisors, self-employed workers and workers with training obligations;
- possession of a single valid contribution regularity document;
- possession of the risk assessment document in the cases provided for by current legislation;
- possession of the tax regularity certificate;
- the head of the prevention and protection service has been designated, in the cases provided for by the legislation in force.
When the points permit is revoked on construction sites
In the absence of one or more of the conditions listed above, the labor inspectorate will take action to request withdrawal of the permit. Requirements will be checked randomly and can take place either ex officio or following inspections carried out by the labor inspectorate or other control bodies.
How Dot Counting Works
The initial number of credits on each license starts at one minimum of 30 points and can be extended up to a maximum of 100. The total number of credits accumulated by companies will serve as an indicator of suitability to carry out construction activities. Additional points can be earned in two ways: up to a maximum of 10 additional credits at the time of license issuance, depending on the date of registration with the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture; up to 20 additional credits after license issuance, corresponding to one credit for two years of violation-free activity. If violations of safety regulations are found, the increase in points will not apply for a period of three years from the date of the final measure.
How to lose your driving license points and what are the penalties?
When the company or the independent comes sanctioned for violation of safety rulesthe license score decreases proportionally to the seriousness of the acts committed. If non-compliance with accident prevention rules results in an employee's occupational illness, the company will benefit from a reduction of 10 credits. In the event of injury to a worker resulting in permanent incapacity for work, the reduction will be 15 credits. In the event of death at work following violations of prevention rules, 20 points will be removed from the driving license. All companies without a license or with less than 15 credits will not be able to carry out activities on construction sites.
Criticisms of oppositions and unions
The points-based permit for construction companies introduced by the Meloni government has been criticized by the opposition and unions. In recent months, the Democratic Party has expressed a “negative opinion” on the new rules, while the 5 Star Movement considers the new instrument “seriously insufficient”. Some unions also criticize this initiative. Maurizio Landini, general secretary of the CGIL, for example, called for extending the points-based driving license system to all sectors and not just construction. “It was decided that companies that self-certify for a year will not be visited and it was even introduced that visited companies must be informed 10 days in advance. There seem to be two measures – commented Landini – that do not go in the direction of the urgency that we have, because here people continue to die at work and accidents do not decrease.
Cover photo: ANSA/Luca Zennaro