Work placement schemes Work placements are interesting opportunities that enable students to choose what they want to do as a career due to more knowledge of what is available and if there is the chance to alternate study and work. For companies, work placements are extremely rewarding as they enable them to choose staff more easily without necessarily having to employ them first. 

Everything connected to work placements are regulated by the national law D.M. 142/1998 and the principles and criteria contained in art. 18 L. 196/1997 (the so-called Treu law). 

Work placement agreements
An agreement is the document in which the relationship between the promoter of the scheme (the FUB) and the host company (company) is formally established, and which has to be included in the individual training programme of the person undertaking the work placement.
A similar agreement can also concern other work placements for other people. Therefore, it is not always necessary to have one separate agreement for each individual.

Work placement project
The work placement project contains the educational objectives, the references of the person undertaking the work placement, the academic and company tutor and it defines the type, duration and structure of the work placement. 

Number of work placements places per company
The maximum number of work placement places that can be created in a company depends on the number of tenured employees the company has.
The numbers are established in the following way:

• if a company has fewer than five employees, it cannot take on a person for a work placement scheme;
• if a company has between six and nineteen employees, there can be a maximum of two people doing a work placement at the same time;
• if a company has more than twenty employees, the number of people undertaking a work placement can be no more than 10% of the total number of employees  (art. 1 para. 3 D.M. 142/1998).

In order to calculate the numbers above, for companies that deal with seasonal employees, the note from the Work Ministry of 18 September 1998 is valid where workers with a fixed term contract are recognised, following certain conditions, as tenured workers.  

Important information for postgraduate work placements

The Ministerial decree of 30.10.2007 requires that any postgraduate work experience must be communicated by the host company or institution to the local Employment Office.

Insurance
The Free University of Bozen/Bolzano insures students against accidents that could occur at work through an INAIL policy during the entire work placement period in companies in Italy.
Third party insurance for each participant on the work placement scheme is also taken out by the Free University of Bozen/Bolzano.
The insurance cover is valid for the place and duration of the work placement scheme that is stated in the project.
In the event that there is an accident, the company tutor must contact the office of the University’s managing director immediately, sending an email to administration@unibz.it or sending a fax to +39 0471 011000.

Medical check up  

Companies should plan/ arrange for their interns  a medical check up if required.

Maximum duration of the work placement scheme
The maximum duration for university students, doctoral students and those following specialisation schools and courses cannot be longer than 12 months. However, it is also possible for students to undertake a work placement in the twelve months after completing their studies for a maximum of 6 month (D.M. n. 148 del 24.09.2011).

Remuneration
It is not compulsory for companies to pay their work placement trainees but many companies do provide some kind of financial support, lunch vouchers, expenses, etc. Any tasks taken on for the company, however, must be stated in the training project. 

Prolonging the work placement
If the work placement period has not expired, it can be prolonged but only if the main elements of the project remained unvaried (place of work, objectives and manner of the work placement, any assistance given). If participants wish to prolong their work placement, a written request must be sent at least 14 days before the end of the work placement.