The debate on the active participation of workers in the management of municipal companies is attracting attention, with Rieti, a town of Lazio region of Italy, where Rome is located, and one of its five provincial capitals along with Roma, Latina, Frosinone, and Viterbo) emerging as an innovative model of governance. Significant interventions, such as those by the Minister of Labour Marina Calderone and the city’s mayor, Daniele Sinibaldi, emphasise how crucial it is to involve workers as an integral part of the decision-making process in public companies.
The starting point is that effective and participatory management can respond more adequately to the needs of local communities. Beyond economic policies, this new vision aims to tackle social desertification by creating a virtuous environment that promotes collective well-being. In this scenario, the implementation of Article 46 of the Italian Constitution, which affirms the right of workers to participate in the management of companies, must be an essential reference point.
The municipal enterprise ASM (Azienda Servizi Municipali), a company owned by the municipality of Rieti, operates in key public service sectors such as waste management, public transportation, and certain public pharmacies. With a workers’ representative on its Board of Directors, ASM serves as a concrete example of a dynamic co-management model. Such an approach not only promotes shared responsibility but can also serve as an example for other Italian municipalities, demonstrating that active worker participation is not antithetical to business efficiency but can, in fact, be a valuable resource.
In this process, Roma III University is proving to be a key partner, offering training support that can help this new management awareness to mature. But the challenge now is to translate this vision into concrete and measurable actions.
The Rieti experiment, in the broader context of the new Participation Law, could open a new chapter for Italian municipal companies, in which worker participation is not only an added value but an essential element for successfully facing future challenges. It is time to invest in participation workshops that help nurture a new ruling class for our country.
Stefano Andrini, National Secretary of Public (owned by state or regional government or municipality) waste management company, UGL, Italy