Abstract

The Fondi paritetici interprofessionali (FIs) are bilateral bodies, set up by trade union and employer associations, which finance training activities for employees. Based on a quantitative and qualitative analysis in the metropolitan Milan area, the paper describes the functioning of the FIs and discusses how well they align with the policy objectives that led to their creation. Findings show that around 40% of companies adhere to FIs and the membership rate is much higher for large firms. FIs have an intersectoral connotation, which risks providing a training offer that is not professionally characterized, although it also generates beneficial effects in terms of effectiveness and innovation, by stimulating competition for companies to join. An overall positive picture emerges of the activities of the FIs in the metropolitan Milan area: the network of interdependencies on which the system is based allows overcoming the main problems that characterize the training of workers, namely the opportunism of companies and training institutions. Despite some critical issues, the decentralization of the system from the Ministry to the FIs was thus a far-sighted choice, which included elements of competition and flexibility in the system of public funding for training that have increased its efficiency and effectiveness