The president of Confindustria, Carlo Bonomi, took refuge in the Vatican to ask the Pope for a special one blessing for entrepreneurs and for this country. But perhaps the choice also served to escape the confused electoral campaign, not to take a position with respect to the parties which, as usual, in most cases, promise things which then, colliding with the harsh reality, cannot be done.
Confindustria: non-partisan but not non-political
Bonomi reiterated that Confindustria is non-government and non-party. But it is certainly not apolitical and therefore at this juncture it should have entered the electoral campaign forcefully, not to cheer for this or that pole, but to contrast with solid economic arguments, the vague promises of the parties, the contradictions of those who want everything regardless of the logical coherence of their proposals.
Perhaps this exercise would have led Confindustria to go against a large part of the current parties either for their foreign policy, or for their casual use of the public budget, or for the lack of courage in outlining concrete reforms of the functioning of our system. What is missing, and this Bonomi has pointed out, is a strong commitment to growth. Few mention it. Very few give any indication consistent with the objective of resuming the growth path which should be the priority of priorities.
Bonomi's speech
A strange assembly of Confindustria was therefore held in front of the Pope. Both government and party representatives were missing. Bonomi's initial speech, made in the absence of Pope Francis, flew high. He touched on some topical issues but without taking sides strong even if here and there some polemical expression was inevitable, as when we mentioned the pensions on which an excess of public spending is concentrated to the detriment of young people and other needy categories.
Sul job market Bonomi complained about the non-functioning of the training system which does not create young people suitable for taking on the roles that companies require today. For the elderly – said the president – early retirement cannot be continued, a situation must be found in which the country can use the experience of someone who has worked for many years and can still play a positive role in the company or in public administration.
Sul minimum salary Bonomi slipped away, arguing that Confindustria is not interested in that its contracts provide for minimums that are much higher than those proposed. This is true, but the minimum wage issue must be seen together with one bargaining reform and the establishment of parameters for the recognition of the representativeness of the trade unions which are reforms which should be at the top of Confindustria's policy as this would be a way to increase productivity and therefore differentiate wages, pushing them upwards.
The words of Pope Francis
To the commitments made by Bonomi on the role of companies for defend the dignity of work, Pope Francis has responded for his part. He said that entrepreneurs play an important role in society and that it's not true that the rich cannot enter the kingdom of heaven, even if it won't be easy for them. Above all, he insisted on the need for entrepreneurs not to act out of mere personal interest but that pursue the good of society by sharing the fruits of their work. Sharing that can take place in many ways, from philanthropy to safeguarding the dignity of workers, torecruitment of young people, something that interests the companies themselves if they want to keep pace with progress.
Pope Francis: "Taxes are the heart of the social pact"
But the big thrust came when the Pope spoke of theobligation to pay taxes, which are the heart of the social pact that holds a people together, but they must be fair. And then he recommended to entrepreneurs to do not discriminate against women making sure they can have more children and at the same time continue to work.
"Having children is an act of patriotism" Francis articulated and the industrialists must do something to avoid the very worrying demographic decline in many countries of the world. There will be elections in a few days. Whoever wins, Confindustria has undertaken, calling the Vicar of Christ as witness, not to shut itself up within the walls of its own factory, but to develop an active and strong conversation with the future government to give the country a policy based not on the emotions of the moment but, as Bonomi said, on a long horizon.
