Work-life balance is playing an increasingly central role in strategies for managing and developing human resources.
This is the context for UNI/PdR 192:2026—Management System for Work-Life Balance—which provides organizations with a structured model for planning, implementing, monitoring, and continuously improving their work-life balance policies.
To encourage its adoption, the Department for Family Policies and the Department for Equal Opportunities of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers, with Unioncamere acting as the Implementing Entity, have allocated a total of 7.5 million euros to support companies in their journey toward certification.
Two Forms of Support for Businesses
The initiative includes two distinct lines of action: one dedicated to technical assistance and support toward certification, and one intended to directly cover the costs of the initial UNI/PdR 192:2026 certification.
Of the total €7.5 million available, €3.25 million is allocated to technical assistance and guidance services, and €4.25 million to certification services.
Sixty percent of the funds are reserved for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
Technical Assistance and Support
The first phase of the program is designed to help businesses prepare for the certification process.
The subsidy is provided in the form of mentoring and technical-management support services carried out by qualified experts identified as part of the initiative.
Activities may include the analysis of business processes, the identification of any gaps relative to UNI/PdR 192:2026, support for the implementation of the Management System, and the activities necessary to prepare for certification.
The maximum eligible amount for this funding line is 2,459.01 euros, excluding VAT, per company, corresponding to a maximum of 6 days of assistance.
Up to 12,000 euros for initial certification
The second line of support directly concerns the services required to obtain initial UNI/PdR 192:2026 certification.
The grant is determined based on the number of full-time equivalent employees and the associated audit time and can reach a maximum of 12,000 euros per company, excluding VAT.
The maximum amount granted for each audit day is 1,200 euros and includes the costs associated with the activities required for the issuance of the certification.
*Maximum amounts, excluding VAT.
It is important to note that, when determining audit durations, the criteria specifically set forth in the Notice regarding equivalent staff members are applied.
Who is eligible for the incentives?
The Notice is intended for companies that plan to pursue UNI/PdR 192:2026 certification and that meet the specified requirements.
The main eligibility requirements include:
- the presence of at least one employee on staff;
- a valid VAT number and a registered office and place of business in Italy, or a tax domicile in Italy in the cases provided for;
- compliance with administrative and social security requirements;
- compliance with applicable labor regulations;
- compliance with any obligations regarding the Report on the Status of Male and Female Employees;
- passing the online pre-screening test required by the initiative.
To verify whether your business is eligible, please refer to the complete requirements set forth in the official notice.
Pre-screening: the first step
Before submitting an application, the company must complete an online self-assessment test to determine its level of readiness for the certification process.
Achieving the minimum score required by the pre-screening is one of the necessary requirements for accessing the incentives.
The test will be available starting September 21, 2026, on the initiative’s dedicated portal.
How and When to Submit an Application
Applications may be submitted from 10:00 a.m. on September 21, 2026, to 4:00 p.m. on March 31, 2027, subject to any extensions or early closure should available funds be exhausted.
Applications must be submitted exclusively online via InfoCamere’s ReStart platform.
The required documentation also includes a quote issued by a Certification Body listed in the specific Directory of Certification Bodies participating in the initiative, containing the information requested in the Notice, including the duration of the audit and the daily rate.
Given the possibility of early closure if funds run out, it is important for interested companies to assess the requirements and procedures for participation well in advance.
Free AFNOR Italia Webinar: A Closer Look at UNI/PdR 192:2026
To mark the launch of new opportunities for businesses, AFNOR Italia is hosting a free webinar on Wednesday, September 30, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., dedicated to UNI/PdR 192:2026 and the new Management System for work-life balance.
During the meeting, we will explore:
- the scope and objectives of UNI/PdR 192:2026;
- the requirements of the Management System;
- the 7 evaluation areas and KPIs specified in the Practice;
- the certification process;
- synergies with UNI/PdR 125:2022;
- the opportunities available to organizations.
How is the certification grant disbursed?
An important feature of the initiative concerns how the grant is disbursed.
Once certification is obtained, Unioncamere disburses the grant directly to the Certification Body. Within the limits of the subsidy granted, the company is therefore not required to pay upfront the portion of the certification service costs covered by the grant.
Services related to the initial certification are eligible for funding. However, any pre-audits, supplementary audits, surveillance audits, and renewals are excluded from the subsidy.
The process must be completed with the attainment of certification by June 30, 2027, unless extensions are provided for under the initiative. If certification is not attained by the specified deadline, the subsidy for certification services will not be disbursed.
An additional incentive for companies already certified under
The Notice also pays special attention to companies that, as of the application submission date, already hold UNI/PdR 125:2022 certification for gender equality and/or Family Audit certification.
Upon request, a 450-euro increase in the grant for certification services is available to cover the costs of surveillance required to maintain UNI/PdR 125 or Family Audit certification during the period specified in the Notice.
The measure also highlights the complementarity among tools that, despite having distinct objectives and requirements, contribute to promoting organizational models that are more people-centered.
UNI/PdR 192:2026: An Opportunity to Structure Work-Life Balance Policies
These incentives represent a concrete opportunity for companies seeking to pursue UNI/PdR 192:2026 certification, reducing the financial impact associated with both the preparation phase and the initial certification.
Beyond the financial incentive, the new standard offers organizations a tool to address the work-life balance through a systemic approach, integrating it into organizational processes and establishing objectives, responsibilities, performance indicators, monitoring, and continuous improvement.
Would you like to have your organization certified according to UNI/PdR 192:2026?
AFNOR Italia, as an independent certification body, can assess the compliance of your management system with the requirements of UNI/PdR 192:2026 and guide your organization through the third-party certification process, in accordance with the principles of independence and impartiality inherent in certification activities.
Discover the incentives
To learn about the requirements, how to participate, and the documentation needed to access the incentives, always consult the official Unioncamere notice.
https://conciliazionevitalavoro.unioncamere.gov.it/
https://conciliazionevitalavoro.unioncamere.gov.it/bando
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