The notification of employment relationships is strictly regulated in Italy. As a general rule, every employer must electronically notify the competent labour authorities of the commencement of a new employment relationship before the start of the employment activity. This so-called UniLav notification (Mandatory Employment Communication – Comunicazione Obbligatoria di Assunzione) contains all essential information regarding the employment relationship and serves, in particular, to combat undeclared work.
If the prior notification is not properly completed, significant penalties may be imposed for undeclared employment.
For actual emergencies in which the timely transmission of the UniLav notification before the start of work is objectively impossible, the Italian notification system provides for an exception: the UniUrg notification (Unificato Urgente).
What is UniUrg?
UniUrg is a simplified urgent notification that allows an employer to notify a new employment relationship at short notice and before the start of work if the regular UniLav notification cannot be submitted on time due to an unforeseeable situation.
However, UniUrg does not replace the complete hiring notification; it only represents a temporary emergency notification.
The notification contains only the essential minimum information:
- Employer: tax code and company name
- Employee: tax code and personal data
- Start date of the employment relationship
- Type and reason for the urgency
When may UniUrg be used?
The use of the UniUrg notification is permitted only in exceptional cases. It may not be used as a simplified procedure for ordinary hires, but exclusively when a timely UniLav notification is objectively impossible.
Typical cases may include:
- unforeseeable business urgency, requiring immediate commencement of work
- technical problems or system failures (e.g. failure of the ProNotel2 portal)
- unforeseeable organisational obstacles (e.g. temporary unavailability of the appointed consultant)
The UniUrg notification is not permitted if the delayed notification is due to poor organisation or deliberately late planning of the hiring process.
Important: UniUrg may only be used for new hires. Changes or terminations of existing employment relationships cannot be processed through this notification.
Procedure for the UniUrg notification
The UniUrg notification can be submitted by the employer itself (using a digital identity) or electronically by an authorised payroll office or employment law consultant.
Depending on the situation, the submission is made through the relevant online portal of the Ministry of Labour (for tourism companies, a different online portal must be used). After logging in via SPID, CIE or CNS, the required minimum information is entered:
- Entering the employer’s details
- Entering the employee’s details
- Indicating the start date of the employment relationship
- Description or selection of the reason for urgency
- Electronic submission of the notification
After successful submission, a confirmation receipt is generated. This receipt must be retained by the employer or the appointed service provider, as it serves as proof of timely compliance with the notification obligation and must be indicated in the subsequent UniLav notification.
Deadlines and subsequent UniLav notification
UniUrg does not replace the complete notification. The regular notification (UniLav) must be completed no later than the following working day, and in any case within 5 days.
Practical relevance for companies
UniUrg is an emergency instrument, not a standard procedure.
Companies should consider:
- use only where a timely prior notification is genuinely impossible
- careful documentation of the urgency
- documentation of the reasons for the urgency (e.g. technical problems, internal records)
- retention of the submission confirmation
- timely completion of the full UniLav notification
Conclusion
The UniUrg notification allows, in exceptional cases, the immediate commencement of work without a prior UniLav notification. Due to its exceptional nature, it should only be used in genuine emergencies, as improper use may lead to objections and sanctions.