Italian Workers at Risk During the COVID-19 Epidemic

30 Pages Posted: 27 Jul 2020

See all articles by Teresa Barbieri

Teresa Barbieri

University of Turin

Gaetano Basso

Bank of Italy

Sergio Scicchitano

John Cabot University; Global Labor Organization (GLO); Istituto Nazionale per l’Analisi delle Politiche Pubbliche (INAPP)

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: June 26, 2020

Abstract

We analyse the content of Italian occupations operating in about 600 sectors with a focus on the dimensions that expose workers to risks during the COVID-19 epidemics. We leverage detailed information from ICP, the Italian equivalent of O*Net and find that several sectors need physical proximity to operate: the workers employed in sectors whose physical proximity index is above the national average are more than 6.5 million (mostly in retail trade). Groups at risk of complications from COVID-19 (mainly male above the age of 50) work in sectors that are little exposed to physical proximity, currently under lockdown or can work remotely. The sectoral lockdowns put in place by the Italian Government in March 2020 targeted sectors who operate in physical proximity, but not those directly exposed to infections (the health industry is not subject to lockdown). Most of the workforce who can operate from home have not been put under lockdown.

Keywords: working conditions, safety, crisis policies, COVID-19 epidemics

JEL Classification: J28, J81, H12, I18

Suggested Citation

Barbieri, Teresa and Basso, Gaetano and Scicchitano, Sergio, Italian Workers at Risk During the COVID-19 Epidemic (June 26, 2020). Bank of Italy Occasional Paper No. 569, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3660014 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3660014

Teresa Barbieri

University of Turin ( email )

Corso Unione Sovietica 218bis
Torino, 10134
Italy

Gaetano Basso (Contact Author)

Bank of Italy ( email )

Via Nazionale 91
Rome, 00184
Italy

Sergio Scicchitano

John Cabot University ( email )

via della lungara 10
roma, 00179
Italy
3929874656 (Phone)

Global Labor Organization (GLO) ( email )

Collogne
Germany

Istituto Nazionale per l’Analisi delle Politiche Pubbliche (INAPP) ( email )

Corso d’Italia, 33
Roma, 00198
Italy

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