Work · Seasonal Workers · Labour Costs
How much does a seasonal farm worker cost in Italy in 2026?
November 2, 2026 · 3 min read
Under the rules of the national agreement, a seasonal farm worker on a fixed-term contract (OTD, operaio a tempo determinato) costs €12.26 per hour worked in wages and third element. Severance pay and contributions come on top. The figure applies to the lowest level, "Comune", in the province of Pavia, from 1 June 2026. In another province the amount changes, because the provincial agreement sets the pay.
Who sets the pay: national and provincial agreements
The national collective agreement (CCNL, contratto collettivo nazionale) for farm and nursery workers sets the rules and the area minimums. The wage for each level, however, is set by the provincial employment agreement, which cannot go below those minimums (art. 50 of the CCNL).
On 28 May 2026 farmers' associations and trade unions signed the agreement that renews the CCNL for 2026-2029. The increase is 5.1% in two steps: 3.4% from 1 June 2026 and 1.7% from 1 January 2027, applied to the provincial wages already in force.
The monthly area minimums from 2026 are €1,532.99 (area 1), €1,398.09 (area 2) and €1,042.43 (area 3). Many provinces pay more, as the example below shows.
What makes up a seasonal worker's pay
A seasonal worker is paid for the hours actually worked. The working week is 39 hours, that is 6.5 hours a day. To get the pay from the monthly wage, the CCNL sets two divisors: 26 for the day, 169 for the hour.
Two items set by the 2022-2025 CCNL are added to the pay:
- Third element, 30.44% of the wage. It replaces entitlements that go to permanent staff: public holidays (5.45%), annual leave (8.33%), thirteenth month pay (8.33%), fourteenth month pay (8.33%).
- Severance pay (TFR, trattamento di fine rapporto), 8.63% of the contractual wage. It is not calculated on the third element. For hours of non-ordinary work done on a non-occasional basis it rises to 10%.
The unions' statements on the renewal do not mention changes to these percentages. They do report an extra element of 0.4% from 1 January 2027. It goes to those who work at least 150 days a year, for three years in a row, at the same farm.
An example: one 6.5-hour day in Pavia
In Pavia the monthly wage for the Comune level was €1,536.54 on 31 December 2025. With the 3.4% increase (€52.24) it becomes €1,588.78 from 1 June 2026. From January 2027 it will be €1,614.90.
- Daily wage: 1,588.78 divided by 26 makes €61.11, that is €9.40 an hour.
- Third element: 30.44% of 61.11 makes €18.60.
- Gross pay: €79.71 per day, that is €12.26 an hour.
- Severance pay: 8.63% of 61.11 makes €5.27.
Total before contributions: €84.98 per day. For the Qualificato level (€1,753.62 a month) gross pay rises to €87.98 per day.
One day of a seasonal worker in Pavia, Comune level, from 1 June 2026
- Daily wage€61.11
- Third element (30.44%)€18.60
- TFR severance pay (8.63%)€5.27
Total before contributions€84.98
Contributions
For 2026 the INPS (Italy's social security institute) sets, for farms in general, an employer rate of 33.753% on seasonal workers. Of this, 8.5% is INAIL (workplace accident insurance). The worker pays 8.84%. These are percentages of taxable pay, with no reductions.
In disadvantaged areas the rate is cut by 68%, in particularly disadvantaged areas (former mountain areas) by 75%. The cost in euro depends on the farm's municipality and on the calculation base, so it is not shown here. For your own case, ask your farmers' association or an adviser.
What changes from farm to farm
The level given to the worker changes, and so do the province, the contribution reductions and any more favourable terms. The actual hours change too: pay follows the work done.
How much would your next season cost you? Post the job, state the pay and receive applications from seasonal workers.
Sources
- Flai-Cgil, CCNL operai agricoli e florovivaisti 2022-2025, testo del contratto
- Fai Cisl, Vita nei campi e nell'agroalimentare, n. 455, giugno 2026
- Flai-Cgil, Lavoro: siglato il CCNL operai agricoli e florovivaisti 2026-2029
- Uila-Uil, Siglato CCNL operai agricoli e florovivaisti 2026-2029
- Confagricoltura Ragusa, Rinnovo del CCNL per gli operai agricoli e florovivaisti 2026-2029
- INPS, circolare n. 43 del 7 aprile 2026, aliquote contributive per gli operai agricoli
- INPS, circolare n. 43 del 7 aprile 2026, Allegato 2, aliquote per gli operai a tempo determinato
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