Inclusiveness, equality, and gender parity are the cornerstones of Filatura Tollegno 1900’s welfare program, which translates into a series of concrete actions and initiatives. This commitment is reflected in the company’s adherence to the agreement pursuant to Article 14 of Legislative Decree 276/03 approved by the Piedmont Region. In collaboration with Orso Blu Impresa Cooperativa Sociale, Filatura Tollegno 1900 has invested a portion of its available resources to hire a new employee at the facility, improving its cleaning service. But that’s not all. Thanks to this initiative, the company is pioneering a new opportunity with concrete social value in the Biella area. This is also confirmed by Isabella Carlone, Head of Logistics, and Barbara Serra, Psychologist for Job Placement at Orso Blu Impresa Cooperativa Sociale. “The activation of an agreement pursuant to Article 14 transforms the legal obligation into a process that generates real, concrete, and shared value. For the worker, this project represents a profound change: they are no longer individuals receiving assistance, but individuals who participate, contribute, and co-construct something, becoming active protagonists. Work confers dignity, gives rhythm to the day, and allows for the acquisition of autonomy and social skills, increasing self-esteem and a sense of self-efficacy.”
The impact is also felt on the social level…
Undoubtedly, because the barriers of prejudice are broken down: disability and fragility are not synonymous with inefficiency but can coexist with commitment, competence, and professionalism. The daily encounter between workers with different abilities also contributes to creating a more open, inclusive, and aware environment, fostering more authentic social relationships.
The project’s benefits, however, extend beyond the company, extending to the local community.
It’s true! The project generates benefits that extend to the local community as well. When for-profit companies and nonprofits collaborate in a synergistic relationship, costs for community and welfare services are reduced and, consequently, the economy develops more sustainably and resiliently.
In terms of welfare, joining this project generates further virtuous cycles for the company that decides to implement it. What are the concrete benefits?
Choosing to join this agreement allows the company to fulfill its legal obligations (Law 68/99) by creating job opportunities in a protected and supportive environment, benefiting from the support of a multidisciplinary team managed by the cooperative. This cooperative works in synergy with the client company’s representatives and the workers’ social and health services to reduce critical issues and difficulties.
The decision to activate an agreement under Article 14 also has strong symbolic and cultural value.
Certainly, pursuing this path demonstrates that the company is not simply complying with the law but is consciously choosing to support vulnerable groups and promote an inclusive work model. This choice also offers employees the opportunity to recognize and share the company’s commitment to people.
This is a significant advantage for companies like Filatura Tollegno 1900, which considers its employees an important asset and works to foster in them a sense of belonging and pride. How did the collaboration between the company and Orso Blu Impresa Cooperativa Sociale come about?
The collaboration is the natural evolution of a long-standing collaboration in Orso Blu’s cleaning services, originally conceived as a job placement opportunity with a particular focus on the issue of vulnerability. Mutual understanding and the shared goals of promoting social inclusion led to the development of the project under Article 14 of the Italian Civil Code. Specifically, the project involves the placement of a vulnerable person as a cleaning assistant. This person, in partnership with company tutors and the cooperative’s existing teams, can acquire specific skills and professionalism that can be applied to other work environments.
