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15 January, 2026IndustriALL Global Union has renewed the global framework agreement with Italian energy company ENI, updating and strengthening the previous one signed in 2019. This new agreement marks the continuation of more than two decades of social dialogue and global cooperation between the Italian energy company and the international trade union movement.
The negotiation process lasted two years and involved active participation by trade unions across multiple countries and sectors in which ENI operates. It stands as a clear example that global bargaining and transnational cooperation continue to be effective tools for protecting workers in a rapidly changing world.
At the signing ceremony held in Milan on 13 January, representatives of ENI’s global management, Italian trade unions, and an international delegation from IndustriALL underscored the significance of the agreement as a living instrument for social dialogue and the protection of labour rights throughout the company’s global value chain.
All of the members of the global committee gave concrete examples where they had used the GFA to achieve important wins for their members.
The renewed agreement includes several key improvements over the previous version:
- Integration of ILO Convention 190 on violence and harassment in the world of work, a crucial step forward in protecting all workers from physical and psychological violence in the workplace.
- Strengthened commitment to human rights due diligence: Despite regulatory setbacks at European level, ENI reaffirms its willingness to implement robust human rights due diligence policies across its entire supply chain, in collaboration with trade unions.
- Explicit recognition of social dialogue as a vital tool to accompany the company’s transformation processes, particularly those linked to the energy transition and organizational restructuring.
- A people-centred approach to the energy transition: the agreement acknowledges the need for a Just Transition for workers, based on training, inclusion, and the creation of sustainable jobs.
One of the most important aspects highlighted by the unions is the shared commitment to maintaining the agreement as a living, evolving instrument capable of responding to the major challenges of today and tomorrow: decarbonization, digitalization and increasingly complex supply chains. In a global context marked by geopolitical uncertainty and growing pressure on labour rights, this type of agreement demonstrates that ambitious and responsible cooperation remains possible.
The renewed GFA reinforces the monitoring tools and institutionalized dialogue mechanisms between the company and the global trade union movement. The agreement maintains and strengthens the annual review process, creating a space for joint assessment, transparency, and accountability.
“This renewed agreement is not just symbolic, it’s a real commitment to fundamental labour rights, corporate responsibility and a Just Transition. The fact that a company like ENI is reinforcing its due diligence practices in today’s global context and integrating ILO Convention 190 sends a strong signal of leadership. But beyond the text, what really matters is implementation: it’s time to work together to make these commitments a reality everywhere ENI operates,”
says Atle Høie, IndustriALL general secretary.