The Law 4/2013 and the professional recognition of non-regulated professions in Italy

Abstract

The Law 4/2013 (“Provisions about non-regulated professions”) finally makes it possible in Italy for non-regulated professions to coexist with regulated professions. This was a long awaited reform, required both from non-regulated professionals and from the European Union (as the rigidity of the Italian professional system contradicted some of the EU basic principles). The need of a professional recognition has become more and more urgent for LIS professionals too, especially due to the huge increase in temporary jobs in the last decades.
In the first part, the paper analyses the historical reasons that led to the development of professional orders, and explains why this model has been in a crisis since the 1980's. After a brief description of the composite universe of the non-regulated professions, it examines some relevant features of the Law 4/2013, highlighting how it is affected by the double attempt to overcome the natural oppositions of professional orders, and to smooth the many different opinions of non-regulated professionals. Finally, it urges the Italian library association's government bodies and the whole professional community to rethink the role of the Association in such a context.