Need a "Industrial plan for the country" focused on growth and investments, because 2018, with the end of the Qe and the new arrivals on NPLs, could be a difficult year for keeping Italian accounts. Consequently, it is necessary to have what it takes to be able to negotiate further flexibility with Europe.
This is the message launched today by the Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, and by the secretary of the Fim Cisl, Marco Bentivogli, in a joint intervention in the Sole 24 Ore which comes a few days after the expected meeting that the minister will have, Sunday morning in Milan, with the secretary of the Pd Matteo Renzi. The two will participate in the "Government Goal" event, together with the mayor of Milan Beppe Sala and the Pd candidate for the Lombardy Region Giorgio Gori: a possible sign of openness and dialogue in search of a common position.
“If Italy fails to measure up, we will face a second systemic shock – continues the article – We believe that the start of the electoral campaign shows a widespread lack of awareness of this situation”.
SKILLS AND BUSINESS
Calenda and Bentivogli then put forward some proposals. The first is to recognize the worker's individual right to training in all employment relationships and its definition as a specific contractual content.
As far as the National Business Plan 4.0 is concerned, while confirming the general approach, the minister and the trade unionist argue that it is necessary to address two needs: to refinance the Central Guarantee Fund for 2019 by 2 billion euros, in order to guarantee approximately 50 billion of credits aimed at investments by SMEs; and support private investment for the acquisition and development of 4.0 skills.
WORK 4.0
From the point of view of job protection, Calenda and Bentivogli believe that contractual decentralization is needed: "This process, together with the new contents of the negotiation (welfare, training, working hours, active flexibility) can represent the new "agreement for the factory" in able to hit the challenge of productivity and innovation starting from SMEs, for which territorial bargaining can become a fundamental resource”.
ENERGY AREA
On the energy front, the article talks about extending the legislation that from 1 January of this year has solved the problem of the disadvantage on the price of electricity to gas-using companies as well, as well as strengthening and diversifying the gas supply areas .
COMPETITION
As for competition, the owner of Economic Development and the number one of Fim Cisl argue that it is necessary to focus on two chapters: local public services and concessions, regulating the methods of awarding.
LONG BAND
The transition to the TLC infrastructure for ultra-broadband is crucial: it would be necessary to "verify the possibility of concentrating the development of the network in a single operator, evaluating with all the necessary precautions a possible remuneration with regulated tariffs". The goal must be to avoid infrastructure duplication and ensure maximum competition.
TRADE POLICY AND INTERNATIONALIZATION
With reference to the internationalization of businesses, Calenda and Bentivogli speak of supporting free trade agreements (starting with the one with Canada) and of creating shared rules to guarantee the equitable nature of international trade. "The next battle we must carry on is the one for the inclusion of the principles of environmental and social sustainability in free trade agreements", continues the text. Finally, "the extraordinary plan for Made in Italy, which involved over 17 thousand companies, must be extended and strengthened in particular in the directions of e-commerce and the increase in exporting companies".
MANAGING TRANSFORMATIONS
To help companies and workers who have fallen victim to the change, the minister and the trade unionist speak of "strengthening exceptional solutions in complex crisis areas: dedicated tools for companies benefiting from subsidies (derogations from labor market rules and social safety nets, simplifications and accelerations bureaucratic/authorisations, priority support from the Guarantee Fund, tax exemptions) and accelerated procedures for reclamation and infrastructural interventions to be able to quickly relaunch the business activity". Furthermore, the "refinancing of Development Contracts" and the creation of a fund equivalent to the "Globalization Adjustment Fund" dedicated "to the reconversion of workers and companies displaced by technological innovation and globalization" are needed.
