Commentary on Judgment No. 11198 of 26/04/2024: Pension Funds and Business Transfer

The judgment No. 11198 of April 26, 2024, by the Court of Appeal of Milan provides important clarifications regarding the obligations of the employer in relation to supplementary pension funds, particularly concerning the transfer of a business. This issue is of great relevance both for workers, who may face difficulties in recovering the amounts due, and for employers, who must navigate a complex regulatory framework.

Obligation to Pay Severance Indemnity Contributions

According to the ruling, if the employer fails to fulfill the obligation to pay the severance indemnity contributions to the pension fund chosen by the worker, the latter remains a creditor towards the employer for the corresponding amount. In the event of a business transfer, the new purchasing employer assumes the obligation to make payments, as provided by Article 2112 of the Civil Code.

  • The transferring employer is not exempt from its obligations until the moment of the transfer.
  • The acquirer is required to comply with wage obligations, including those related to pension funds.
  • The worker has the right to claim the payment of the amounts due even from the new employer.

Bankruptcy and Intervention of the Inps Guarantee Fund

A crucial aspect that emerged from the ruling is the issue of the bankruptcy of the transferring employer. In this case, the worker might consider turning to the Inps Guarantee Fund, as provided by Legislative Decree No. 80 of 1992. However, the Court clarified that such a request cannot be accepted if the bankruptcy is declared after the transfer of the business. This is due to the lack of the prerequisite of subjecting the purchasing employer to one of the procedures referred to in Article 1 of the aforementioned decree.

Pension funds - Employer's obligation to pay the severance indemnity contributions to the pension fund - Business transfer pursuant to Article 2112 of the Civil Code - Acquirer's assumption of the transferring employer's payment obligation - Existence - Bankruptcy of the transferring employer - Intervention of the Inps Guarantee Fund pursuant to Article 5 of Legislative Decree No. 80 of 1992 - Request for intervention after the transfer - Groundlessness - Reasons. In the matter of supplementary pension funds, if the employer fails to fulfill the obligation to pay the severance indemnity contributions to the pension fund chosen by the worker, the latter remains a creditor towards the employer for the corresponding wage amount, and in the case of a business transfer, the purchasing employer takes over the obligation pursuant to Article 2112 of the Civil Code, required to comply under the same terms; this, however, means that the worker's request for intervention from the Guarantee Fund pursuant to Article 5 of Legislative Decree No. 80 of 1992, made due to the bankruptcy of the transferring employer declared after the transfer of the business, cannot be accepted, as the prerequisite of subjecting the purchasing employer to one of the procedures referred to in Article 1 of the aforementioned decree is lacking.

Conclusions

In conclusion, judgment No. 11198 of 2024 represents an important clarification for all parties involved in the employment relationship and in the management of pension funds. The obligation to pay severance indemnity contributions, even in the case of a business transfer, remains a central issue, as does the need to protect workers' rights, who, in the event of non-fulfillment, can turn to the new employer. However, it is essential for workers to be aware of the limitations of the Inps Guarantee Fund, in order to avoid disappointment in situations of the transferring employer's economic difficulties.

Bianucci Law Firm