Starting from January 1, 2026, protections for fragile workers and caregivers will be significantly strengthened. Alongside the leave already provided by Law 104, a new measure comes into force to address a very practical and often underestimated need: short and recurring absences related to medical visits, diagnostic tests and therapeutic treatments.
The new provisions were clarified by INPS through Circular no. 152 of December 19, 2025, which sets out the operational guidelines for the implementation of Article 2, paragraph 1, of Law no. 106 of July 18, 2025.
Ten additional annual hours on top of law 104 leave
The measure introduces ten hours of paid leave per year, which add to and do not replace the three monthly days already granted under Law 104. The benefit applies to employees, both in the public and private sectors, affected by oncological diseases in the active phase or early follow-up, or by invalidating or chronic illnesses, including rare diseases, involving a recognized disability rate of at least 74%.
This is a targeted intervention designed to cover those short absences that are difficult to manage through full-day leave, yet are essential in continuous care pathways.
How to request the new leave hours
To make use of the additional ten hours, the employee must submit a request directly to the employer. A medical prescription is required, issued by a general practitioner or a specialist physician working in a public or accredited private healthcare facility, covering specialist visits, instrumental examinations, chemical-clinical and microbiological tests, or frequent medical treatments.
After taking the leave, the employee must provide the employer with an attendance certificate issued by the healthcare facility where the prescribed services were carried out.
Leave also granted for minor children with serious illnesses
The protection also extends to working parents assisting a minor child affected by an oncological, invalidating or chronic illness, including rare diseases. In these cases, ten hours of annual leave are granted, independently of any hours already used by the worker for their own medical needs.
To access the benefit, the employee must declare to the employer that they meet the legal requirements, submit the medical prescription, and provide proof of the child’s civil disability recognition of at least 74%. In the case of multiple minor children, the ten annual hours are granted for each child and to each working parent.
Economic allowance and regulatory framework
During the leave, employees are entitled to an economic allowance calculated according to the rules in force for sickness benefits. The legislative reference applies solely to the method of calculating the financial compensation, given the substantial difference between this type of leave and standard sick leave, which relates exclusively to the worker’s own temporary incapacity.
Overall, the ten annual hours of paid leave represent an important step within a broader reform of protections for fragile workers and caregivers. A measure designed to make the system more responsive to the real-life demands of care pathways, where regular treatments and medical checks are an integral part of working life.
