Undeclared Work in Rome: How to Report It and What You Can Recover
Filing a report is free, can be anonymous, and is open even to workers without a residence permit. A practical guide with addresses, useful evidence, and what to expect afterwards.
In a nutshell
If you work without a contract, get paid in cash with no payslip, or your employer isn't paying your social-security contributions, you can report it for free to the Labour Inspectorate. The report can be anonymous — your name is never shared with the employer. This right applies even if you don't have a residence permit.
At a glance
| Cost | Free. Always. |
| Timeline | Report: immediately. Inspection starts: 30–90 days. Back-pay recovery: 3–36 months. |
| Where in Rome | Via Cesare De Lollis 12, 00185 Roma — ITL Roma, tel. 06 4434611 |
| Documents | None required. Useful: chat logs, photos, bank transfers, payslips, witnesses |
Undeclared work vs. grey work — what's the difference?
Undeclared work (lavoro in nero) happens when the employer fails to notify the employment centre before the working relationship begins. The UNILAV (Italy's mandatory employment-start notification) must be submitted at least 24 hours before work begins — if it wasn't, the arrangement is irregular.
Grey work is different: there's a contract, but something doesn't add up. You're in this situation if you work more hours than those on your payslip, you're officially part-time but work full-time hours, or you're formally listed as a trainee or occasional freelancer but actually have fixed hours, receive daily instructions, and work for a single employer. These cases can also be reported.
Both situations are illegal and can be flagged to the authorities.
Who can file a report
Anyone: Italian, EU, or non-EU workers, even those without a Permesso di soggiorno (residence permit for non-EU citizens). You can report even after the working relationship has ended. Family members, colleagues, clients, trade unions, or a Patronato (free union-run office helping with social-security and immigration paperwork) can also file on your behalf.
The report can be made in your name or anonymously — either way, your identity is never disclosed to the employer. Inspectors conduct unannounced checks and never reveal their source.
If you are an undocumented foreign national, Italian law still protects you. Legislative Decree 109/2012 (implementing EU Directive 2009/52) guarantees your right to claim back wages. If you report serious exploitation or caporalato (gang-master labour trafficking) and cooperate with the authorities, you may qualify for a special-circumstances residence permit under art. 22, paragraph 12-quater of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
How to file a report in Rome
You have four options:
Online is the quickest route. Go to servizi.ispettorato.gov.it, log in with SPID (Italy's digital identity for accessing online public services) or CIE (Italian electronic ID card) — or proceed without authentication to remain anonymous — and fill in the "Richiesta di intervento ispettivo" (request for inspection) form. Enter your employer's details, the type of violation, the period of employment, and attach any evidence you have. You immediately receive a reference number.
By certified email (PEC — legally valid certified email in Italy): itl.roma@pec.ispettorato.gov.it
By regular email: itl.roma@ispettorato.gov.it
In person: ITL Roma, Via Cesare De Lollis 12, 00185 Roma. The public-relations desk (URP) is open Monday–Friday 9:00–12:00, with afternoon appointments also available Monday and Wednesday 14:30–16:00.
If you need help filling in the report, a Patronato will do it for free:
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| INCA-CGIL | Via Buonarroti 12, 00185 | 06 4870125 |
| ITAL-UIL | Via Cavour 108, 00184 | 06 5042426 |
| INAS-CISL | Via Po 22, 00198 | 06 8473430 |
| ACLI | Via Marcora 18-20, 00153 | 06 5840650 |
What evidence to gather
You don't need to have everything. Even a single piece of evidence can trigger an inspection. The most useful things are: photos or videos of the workplace with visible timestamps, WhatsApp or SMS messages with the employer or colleagues, partial bank transfers or cash receipts, payslips showing fewer hours than you actually worked, written work orders, photos of timesheets or attendance logs, names of witnesses (colleagues, clients, suppliers), and emails assigning you tasks.
What happens after you report
Once you submit the report, the Labour Inspectorate reviews it within 15–30 days, cross-referencing data with INPS (Italy's social-security agency — pensions, unemployment, family benefits), INAIL (Italy's workplace-injury insurance institute), and the local employment centre. If the case holds up, inspectors show up at the workplace unannounced, checking contracts, the unified payroll register, attendance records, and interviewing employees.
If they find violations, they issue an official inspection report and penalties. They may also issue a diffida accertativa per crediti patrimoniali (a formal payment order under art. 12 of Legislative Decree 124/2004): this orders the employer to pay your back wages within 30 days. If the employer refuses, you can go to the Labour Court — and if your ISEE (income-and-wealth indicator used to qualify for means-tested benefits) is below €12,838.01, you qualify for state-funded legal aid.
What you can recover
Even without a written contract, you are legally entitled to claim: back wages calculated on the applicable national collective agreement (CCNL) for your sector (art. 2126 of the Italian Civil Code), INPS social-security contributions, TFR (severance pay accrued during employment in Italy), unused holiday and leave entitlement, and the notice-period allowance if you were dismissed verbally. The statute of limitations for wages and TFR is five years — act without delay.