What is a Superminimo mentioned in employment contracts in Italy?

A superminimo is an additional amount of pay negotiated individually between employer and employee, supplementing the CCNL-mandated minimum salary to reflect experience, skills, or responsibilities not captured by standard CCNL classifications.

At Horizons, our standard practice is to implement a superminimo as absorbable, aligning with typical practices in Italy and ensuring compliance with updates to national collective labor agreements (CCNL).

Absorbable vs. Non‑Absorbable

Superminimo Assorbibile (Absorbable)

An absorbable superminimo can be reduced or offset when CCNL minimum salaries increase. This ensures the total gross salary remains stable, and only the portion above the new base is adjusted.

Example:

CCNL minimum salary: €2,000
Superminimo: €300
Total salary: €2,300
CCNL increase: +€100 → new base becomes €2,100
Employer absorbs €100 of the superminimo → total remains €2,300

Absorbability is generally the default unless the contract or collective agreement specifies otherwise.

Superminimo Non Assorbibile (Non‑Absorbable)

A non‑absorbable superminimo cannot be reduced. When CCNL salary rates rise, the increase is added on top of the total salary, preserving the full superminimo. This is typically more advantageous for employees.

Why the Distinction Matters

For employees: Non‑absorbable superminimi offer income stability and ensure that contractual wage increases are fully reflected in take-home pay.
For employers: Absorbable superminimi offer flexibility and help manage compensation costs as labor regulations evolve.

Horizons’ Policy on Superminimo

Horizons adopts the absorbable superminimo as its standard approach. This policy ensures:

Predictable salary structures consistent with CCNL updates
Alignment with Italian labor practices
Reduced risk of compliance issues or misunderstandings

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