The essay focuses on a specific aspect of E.B.: their function in the employment process. The Author analyses the role of E.B. within the broad context of the current, and as yet incomplete, reform of the Italian employment system and of the opening of private employment agencies. Two possible scenarios are analyzed for the potential impact on the labour market: one that regards the E.B. as successfully working in conjunction with the public employment agency, the other that regards the E.B. as direct competitors of the private employment agencies.