The president of Confindustria Giorgio Squinzi, who until the day before the elections had seemed skeptical of the Renzi government, which he accused of promising a lot but delivering little, after the vote in the European elections made the widest opening of credit to the young prime minister, promising the full collaboration of the industrialists to the necessary changes of course both in Italy and in Europe.
During the annual meeting of the Confederation of Industrialists, Squinzi clearly placed the modernization of the labor market and bargaining at the center of the reform plan, which moreover requires convergent action by both the Government and the social partners themselves. The Government will have the task of simplifying labor regulations, defining very clear rules for hiring and firing and above all for modifying the current system of social safety nets which will have to break the link between company and worker, at the same time favoring the formation of those who remain jobless, together with an adequate social shock absorber, linked however to the active search for re-employment. The social partners will be responsible for modifying the rules of bargaining, giving more weight to the company one and therefore to the link between wages and productivity which, on the other hand, the current system centered on national bargaining does not ensure.
This is a big change on the part of Confindustria, which also arrives a few years behind the needs of Italian companies, and which will now have to be carried forward with determination to overcome the resistance of a part of the unions, especially the CGIL, which so far it has always taken refuge in defense of national contracts.
For the rest, Squinzi's report touched on the themes that have always been dear to the industrial audience: the reform of the bureaucracy and the simplification of legislation, the excessive weight of the tax authorities, justice and the creation of an environment favorable to those who undertake, risk and create new jobs. Partially new was the very strong emphasis placed on corruption, which damages the rules of the market, other companies and therefore the entire country. Corrupt companies cannot be part of the Confindustria system, emphasized Squinzi, receiving a strong and convinced applause from the audience for this passage.
Lastly, Squinzi's report did not lack a hint of self-criticism when he spurred entrepreneurs to do their part to help "build a new Italy", now doing those things that have not had the courage to do in the last two decades Do.
The intervention of the Minister of Development Federica Guidi was effective both as an appeal to the cultural renewal of entrepreneurs, and as an indication of the concrete things that the government intends to do in the coming weeks. In general terms, Giudi urged business managers to "overcome defeatist pessimism" and not to resign themselves to the fact that Italy is destined to remain the "periphery of the world". In particular, the Minister of Development is ready to take up some industrial policy issues that have been abandoned for a long time, such as that for reducing the cost of energy and that concerning support for investments with streamlined and automatic fiscal instruments.
In particular, Guidi has outlined the general lines of a project for the internationalization of companies, which certainly can have support from the State, but which largely depends on the attitude and willingness of entrepreneurs to open up to the new, to recapitalize their companies by bringing them on the stock exchange if possible or by bringing in new shareholders. "There is a great desire for Italy in the world - said the minister -, it is up to us to satisfy it".
Overall, there was an air of greater optimism and hope in the assembly. Squinzi was more cautious, reiterating that it was primarily up to the Government to rapidly implement the promised reforms. Obviously more optimistic is Guidi, who vigorously represented Renzi's push towards a "change of direction". Positive signals are coming from the financial markets and Europe too will have to implement concrete actions to stimulate development. Only if politics and the social partners know how to act in concert will Italy have a good chance of emerging from this long and profound crisis.
