On July 6, 2023, in Rome, the National Confederation of Artisans and Small Entrepreneurs (Co.N.A.P.I. Nazionale) and the Confederation Intesa per l’Autonomia Sindacale (CONFINTESA) signed an Interconfederal Agreement to establish an Interprofessional Joint Fund, which was later amended by the Agreement of January 14, 2025.
The Fund, named FORMAINTESA, was formally established on February 21, 2025, in accordance with Article 118, Paragraph 6(a) of Law 388/2000, as a legal entity of associative nature, in accordance with Article 36 of the Civil Code.
Mission and Purpose
FORMAINTESA will aim to finance the continuous training of workers, promoting the professional updating and competitiveness of enterprises, especially micro, small and medium-sized production entities. The Fund will be fed through 0.30 percent of the mandatory contribution allocated to INPS, which each employer can freely direct to FORMAINTESA.
Following the ministerial decree, the accession code will be made available through UNIEMENS procedure.
Why choose FORMAINTESA?
Companies will be able to choose to join FORMAINTESA based on the representativeness of the sponsoring Social Partners, the sector they belong to or specific training needs. The Fund will guarantee transparency, certain timeframes for accessing funding and simplified procedures, positioning itself as a strategic partner for the growth of human capital.
Trade union consultation without charge
A founding feature of Interprofessional Funds is the consultation of training plans with the Social Partners. In FORMAINTESA, such concertation will be carried out at the national level, with no organizational or bureaucratic impact on the enterprise.
Network account for SMEs and micro enterprises
SMEs and microenterprises, which are often penalized by the limited size of payments, will be able to access funding through territorial Network Accounts, based on a principle of rotation and mutuality. This mechanism will also allow smaller enterprises to benefit from training opportunities, overcoming the limitations of Individual Training Accounts.
Speed and continuity in alerts
FORMAINTESA will publish Notices on a regular monthly or quarterly basis, keeping dedicated desks open for applications, thus ensuring timeliness and continuity in accessing resources.
Administrative simplification
By adopting the Standard Costs model, FORMAINTESA will ensure streamlined administrative management, with clear rules and definite timeframes for settlement, to the benefit of Training Organizations and beneficiary enterprises.
Innovation in education
FORMAINTESA will promote educational innovation by including asynchronous e-learning, synchronous FAD, and in-person training in the fundable paths, offering flexibility and adaptability to different business contexts.
Fundable training areas
The Fund will finance continuing education interventions, including those required by law to be paid for by the employer, such as health and safety training under Legislative Decree 81/2008, pathways for apprentices and other projects in collaboration with the relevant Bilateral Body.