| Order of Merit for Labour Ordine al Merito del Lavoro | |
|---|---|
 Insignia of the order | |
| Awarded by theItalian Republic | |
| Type | Order of chivalry |
| Established | 9 May 1901; 124 years ago (1901-05-09) |
| Country | Italy |
| Eligibility | Civilians |
| Criteria | those who have been singularly meritorious in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance |
| Status | Currently constituted |
| Founder | Vittorio Emanuele III |
| Grand Master | President of the Republic |
| Council Chair | Minister of Economic Development |
| Grades | Knight |
| Post-nominals | OML[citation needed] |
| Website | quirinale.it/meritolavoro |
| Precedence | |
| Next (higher) | Military Order of Italy |
| Next (lower) | Order of the Star of Italy |
TheOrder of Merit for Labour (Italian:Ordine al Merito del Lavoro) is an Italianorder of chivalry that was founded in 1923 by KingVittorio Emanuele III. It is awarded to those "who have been singularly meritorious" in agriculture, industry and commerce, crafts, lending and insurance.[1] It is a continuation of the earlierOrdine al Merito Agrario, Industriale e Commerciale founded in 1901.[2] Members of the order may use the titleCavaliere del lavoro.[3]
The origins of the order lie with KingUmberto I who, in 1898, instituted "a decoration for agricultural and industrial merit and a medal of honour."[4] The first was the exclusive prerogative of large landowners and industrialists, the latter for their employees. This was replaced by the Chivalrous or Knightly Order of Agricultural, Industrial and Commercial Merit in 1901, which was intended by Vittorio Emanuele III to give greater dignity to the earlier award.
Awarded in the single degree of Knight, the order is open to all Italians, living at home and overseas. Every year, on 1 June, 25 new Knights of Labour are invested from a shortlist of 40 candidates.[5] The related Star of Merit for Labour, established in 1923, confers the title ofMaestro del Lavoro.[6]
| Ribbon | Class | Name of the Order | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Knight | Ordine al Merito del Lavoro | Cavaliere del lavoro |
 | Master | Stella al Merito del Lavoro | Maestro del lavoro |
The order is bestowed by decree of thePresident of the Italian Republic, its head since 1952, on the recommendation of theMinister of Economic Development (successor to the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Craftsmanship). The badge bears the inscriptionAl merito del lavoro—1901; theV.E. monogram formerly at the centre of the Greek cross, now substituted for thenational coat of arms.
In 1977, the future four-timePresident of the Council of Ministers,Silvio Berlusconi, was appointed to the order by the sixthPresident of the Republic,Giovanni Leone.[7] He later renounced the title after he was found guilty of tax fraud.[8]
| Republic (1946–present) |
|  |
|---|---|---|
| Dynastic orders of themonarchy (1861–1946) |
| |
