Women’s hiring bonus 2025: up to 24 months of contribution relief for companies in Southern Italy and gender-imbalanced sectors

The implementing decree is now official: employers can get up to €650 per month for each newly hired woman

The new Women’s bonus: real incentives for inclusive hiring

The 2025 Women’s Bonus is officially active thanks to Implementing Decree No. 67/2025, which enforces the provisions of Article 23 of the Cohesion Decree (Law Decree No. 60/2024). The goal is simple: to encourage the employment of unemployed or disadvantaged women, offering 100% contribution relief up to a maximum of €650 per month for each worker hired.

Three scenarios, three different durations

The duration and starting date of the contribution exemption vary depending on the type of hiring and the worker’s profile:

1. General exemption

Private employers hiring women with no regular job for at least 24 months, anywhere in Italy, between September 1, 2024 and December 31, 2025, are entitled to 24 months of contribution relief.

2. Enhanced bonus in Southern SEZs

From January 31, 2025 (following EU approval) until December 31, 2025, employers located in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) of Southern Italy can benefit from the same relief when hiring women unemployed for at least 6 months. The exemption again lasts 24 months.

3. For sectors with gender disparities

From September 1, 2024 to December 31, 2025, employers hiring women in sectors or professions with marked gender gaps are entitled to 12 months of relief. The current reference list is outlined in Ministerial Decree No. 3217/2024.

Conditions and eligibility requirements

To access the Women’s Bonus, employers must:

• hold a valid DURC (Single Contribution Compliance Document)
• comply with collective labor agreements and labor law
• respect reemployment rights of previously dismissed workers
• ensure that the hiring results in a net increase in employment, calculated monthly against the average workforce of the previous 12 months, adjusting for part-time contracts

How to apply for the bonus

Applications must be submitted online via the INPS portal. Employers must include:

• employer and worker identification data
• type of employment contract and working hours
• average monthly wage and applicable contribution rate
• a declaration (under Presidential Decree 445/2000) confirming no overlap with other exemptions

🔔 Important: for hires in gender-imbalanced roles, the application must be submitted before hiring. Once the request is approved, the bonus amount is reserved for 10 days to allow completion of the hiring process and related obligations.

The bonus covers 100% of social security contributions, excluding INAIL premiums, up to a monthly cap of €650per worker.