History

The Order was initially established by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1901, and it was conferred upon Italian citizens for extraordinary merit and achievements within labour related fields such as tourism, trade, agriculture, and crafts, and for special services within the Italian Labour Movement.

The Order was re-instituted in 1952, wherein the royal cypher was removed from the obverse medallion and replaced with the star emblem of the Italian Republic that includes the script “REPVBBLICA ITALIANA.”

Eligibility to the Order is restricted to individuals, foreign and Italian, who have rendered a minimum of 20 years of meritorious and honourable service within a leadership position in their field, and never participated in an endeavour that has damaged the economy of the Republic.

Every June 25 new Order members are chosen by the President of the Republic.

This Order was originally instituted during the Kingdom of Sardinia. See the Order of Merit in Labour, ITA235, in the Orders of the Kingdom of Sardina & Kingdom of Italy (1793-1945).