The Order of Merit for Labour (Italian: Ordine al Merito del Lavoro) was founded as a national order of chivalry in 1923 by King Vittorio Emanuele III of Italy; 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 earlier Ordine al Merito Agrario, Industriale e Commerciale founded in 1901.[2] Members of the order may use the title Cavaliere del lavoro.[3]