The Milleproroghe Decree 2026 (D.L. n. 200/2025) has been converted into Law n. 26/2026 and was published in the Official Gazette on February 27, 2026. During the conversion, modifications were made to the measures supporting young, female, and workers in the single ZES (Special Economic Zones) in southern Italy as announced by the Ministry of Labor and Social Policies on March 4, 2026.
The Ministry mentioned the conversion of the so-called Milleproroghe 2026 Decree into law, summarizing some of the approved amendments related to the employment support measures introduced by the Cohesion Decree (D.L. n. 60/2024). The measures particularly focus on young people, women, and workers under 35 in Special Economic Zones.
The Decree has extended the “Under 35 Youth Bonus” till April 30, 2026. This benefit, established by article 22 of the Cohesion Decree, gives private employers exemption from paying social security contributions for up to 24 months when hiring non-managerial personnel under 35 under a permanent contract or transforming fixed-term contracts into permanent ones. The exemption amount is 100% for hires or transformations done until December 31, 2025, and 70% for those happening after that date. It increases to 100% if these hires lead to a net employment increase. The maximum limit of the exemption is 500 euros per month on a national level and 650 euros monthly for hirings carried out in regions including Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Sicily, Apulia, Calabria, Sardinia, Marche, and Umbria.
The Decree also extends the ZES Bonus, a similar exemption measure aiming to boost employment development in the southern ZES regions, till April 30, 2026.
The “Women Bonus” is extended till December 31, 2026 (originally established by article 23 of D.L. n. 60/2024). This bonus provides similar benefits for hiring women, especially in regions Marche and Umbria, with the only condition being that there must be a net employment increase. The benefit doesn’t differentiate regarding the maximum limit of exemption.
