Italian government signs contract for 430,000 security and defence staff with minimum 100-euro net pay rise and 17,591 new hires

The agreement

On 15 July 2026, the Italian government signed at Palazzo Vidoni a triennial contract for the Security and Defence sector covering the period 2025-2027. The accord affects approximately 430,000 non-managerial staff across Carabinieri, Polizia di Stato, Guardia di Finanza, Polizia Penitenziaria, Esercito, Marina (including the Coast Guard) and Aeronautica. The new terms will apply from 1 January 2027.

Personnel breakdown

The 430,000 staff are distributed across: Carabinieri (105,000), Polizia di Stato (94,000), Esercito (69,000), Guardia di Finanza (56,000), Polizia Penitenziaria (40,000), Aeronautica Militare (32,000), Marina Militare (21,000) and Capitanerie di Porto (9,000).

Hiring plan

The contract renewal is part of a broader dossier that includes a plan to hire 17,591 new personnel, outlined in the same government package. The breakdown foresees 5,319 new recruits for the Polizia, 5,080 for Carabinieri, 3,206 for the Guardia di Finanza, 2,489 for the Polizia Penitenziaria and 1,497 for the Vigili del Fuoco.

Pay terms

The agreement grants a minimum net increase of 100 euros per month for entry-level qualifications, with higher ranks receiving progressively larger sums. Combined with the previous 2022-2024 renewal signed in December 2024, the cumulative effect is at least 200 euros net per month, or 2,600 euros annually. Staff will also receive a one-off arrears payment of 2,448 euros covering the 2025 and 2026 years, as provided in the agreement.

Pension working group

As part of the deal, the Ministry of Economy will convene a dedicated pension table within 90 days to address sector-specific retirement issues, a long-standing demand from uniformed personnel.

Government and union reactions

Public Administration Minister Paolo Zangrillo described the move as a concrete step to "give more protections to those who protect us."

Two renewals in a year and a half for the Security and Defence sector mean overall increases of at least 200 euros net per month for entry-level qualifications. It is a clear signal of this government's commitment to contract renewals, especially for the 430,000 people who guarantee the country's internal and external security at a time of great complexity.

Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi hailed the result as historic, noting that it is the second agreement signed in less than two years.

We are giving another concrete signal to all the women and men in uniform who ensure our country's security every day with professionalism and dedication. It is the second agreement signed in less than two years: a historic result never achieved by those before us! And we have already allocated 1 billion euros for the next three years.

Union satisfaction was expressed by Massimo Vespi, secretary general of Fns Cisl, who welcomed the agreement.