Usually, employees are granted two vacation days per month, amounting to 24 holidays per annum. If employees do not use all of their vacation days by the end of the year, they may carry them over to the following year. Companies may decide to cancel part of their employees' yearly vacation, but in that case they have to pay their employees for those days in addition to an overtime salary. Finally, there are also a further 10 days of public holiday, with additional half day holidays and feast days for local patron saints. Employees receive many fringe benefits, and employers often assist with housing, transport, canteens and children's nurseries.
Canteens are quite common in Italy.
Unfortunately, Italy does not have very many children's nurseries yet. Most of these benefits are arranged through negotiation with workers' representatives, in the case of smaller companies, a consortia works to protect workers' rights. Some benefits may be reduced as the Government endeavours to make changes across the welfare sector. National health care is free for everyone, so companies do not have to offer employees health insurance plans. Retirement programs are currently being discussed by the Italian government.