Less than €4 gross per hour for some young people who worked during the summer break. That is the denunciation made by the Sammarinese Workers’ Union (Unione Sammarinese Lavoratori, USL), which is calling for greater attention to contract compliance and has announced checks on the conditions offered to students.
According to USL, this year too a number of pay slips with amounts deemed far too low have come to light, despite the existence of erga omnes contracts, which must be applied by all employers. The union specifically points to the Bar, Hotel, Restaurant and Canteen contract, which sets clear limits on any wage reductions. For category 1/B, no cuts are permitted at all, while in other cases where reductions are allowed, they cannot exceed 10%.
USL also notes that employers who hire students during the summer period can benefit from 70% contribution relief. «We cannot afford to demean the work of young people,» the union stressed, inviting anyone with doubts about their pay slip to contact the organisation’s offices for a review.
The issue of youth employment and job quality will also feature prominently at the 5th USL Congress, scheduled to take place at the Welcome Hotel on 23, 24 and 25 September. The union intends to reaffirm the need to invest in training and skills development, particularly in light of the changes brought about by artificial intelligence.
According to USL, technological progress will make not only specialist skills increasingly important, but also creativity, problem-solving ability, responsibility and a strong sense of duty. This is why the union remains committed to supporting specialisation and training pathways, including through collaboration with the University of the Republic of San Marino.
