Staff contracts renewed with the Ministry of Cohesion: what are the implications

Renewal of Fixed-Term Contracts for School Staff

The fixed-term contract for Ata school staff, specifically for 6,147 school collaborators, has been renewed with the Coesione Decree approved during the Council of Ministers on April 30.

In more detail, the contract of school collaborators hired as additional staff for the implementation of the Pnrr (National Recovery and Resilience Plan) and the Southern Agenda has been renewed after expiring on April 15.

Extension Details

According to the Ministry of Education and Merit press release announcing the extension of Ata staff contracts, school collaborators will be rehired from May 2 to June 15.
This raises concerns about potential gaps in salary and contributions for the period between April 16 and May 1.

As of now, it remains unclear what will happen during this period.
The General Secretary of Flc Cgil, Gianna Fracassi, had requested immediate guidance from the ministry prior to the contract expiration, allowing schools to extend contracts until the new regulations were finalized.

Financial Allocation and Concerns

The Ministry of Education highlights that the extension of Ata staff contracts under the Coesione Decree required a budget allocation of 18.5 million euros, with 14 million covered by the Ministry’s budget.

To cover this allocation, the Ministry will utilize the School Institutions Operating Fund for 2024, which will be replenished in 2025 to maintain financial stability.
Flc Cgil expresses satisfaction with the contract extension but raises concerns about the delay and financial implications for workers.

Additional Measures in the Coesione Decree

Besides Ata staff contracts, the Coesione Decree introduces new measures for schools.
It includes provisions to utilize resources from the national program “School and Skills” 2021-2027, with plans to allocate:

• 200 million euros for sports facilities in schools, benefiting Pnrr projects in regions with lower per capita GDP;
• 100 million euros for innovative educational furniture for children aged 0 to 6, enhancing early childhood educational facilities;
• 150 million euros for advanced laboratories to develop technical skills and combat school dropout rates in needy regions.