Italian Government: "Do Not Use English in Official Documents"... Up to 100 Million Won Fine

Promotion of Mandatory Use of Italian Law
Applies to All Foreign Languages but Focuses on English

Italy is pushing a bill that imposes fines of up to 100,000 euros for using foreign languages in official communication.

On the 1st (local time), US CNN reported that Fabio Rampelli, a member of the Chamber of Deputies from the far-right party Brothers of Italy (FdI), submitted the bill supported by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

The bill, which has not yet been discussed in parliament, requires all public administration employees to have "writing and conversational knowledge and proficiency in Italian." It also prohibits the use of English in official documents, including abbreviations and names of job roles, in state-run companies.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni leading the Fdl [Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the first article of the draft bill obtained by CNN, offices where foreigners who do not use Italian work must also use Italian as the primary language. Accordingly, foreign companies are required to separately maintain Italian versions of all internal regulations and employment contracts.

The second article mandates the use of Italian in promoting the use of public goods and public services. Failure to comply may result in fines ranging from 5,000 euros (approximately 7.1 million KRW) to 100,000 euros (approximately 142 million KRW).

According to the submitted bill, the Italian Ministry of Culture is to establish a committee to address the "correct use and pronunciation of Italian" in schools, media, commerce, and advertising.

CNN stated, "The bill covers all foreign languages but is particularly focused on the use of English."

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