The Government engages the second. After the first package of measures, made up of rigor and sacrifices necessary to restore the accounts, phase 2 of the Monti executive kicks off with the new year: the so-called "grow-Italy", which in addition to the now well-known "save-Italy" will go to compose the new anti-crisis economic legislative structure. On the table of the Government, which has established itself as the Council of Ministers of 20 January is dead-line (in order to be presented to the Eurogroup on 23 with the reform already approved), there are the delicate but extremely important issues: work, liberalisation, infrastructure.
WORK - The hottest dossier of the moment. Although Prime Minister Mario Monti has inaugurated 2012 with a conciliatory phone call to union leaders, this has not prevented the explosion of controversy. Everyone is speaking on the subject, even the President of the Republic Giorgio Napolitano, who hoped to "rethink social safety nets", and Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, president of the CEI, concerned with "preventing social tensions". Even the tam tam between the various trade unions shows no signs of stopping. The leader of the CGIL opened the dance, Susanna Camusso, who on Twitter asked the government to avoid meetings with individual unions: "No to separate meetings in Sacconi style". However, the Uil did not agree with the CGIL's request: "What matters is that the Government listens and accepts the merits of the union proposals," said Luigi Angeletti.
And the government? Move forward decisively. "The reform of the labor market will be the subject of a rapid negotiation because we are not given to work calmly", Prime Minister Monti had already hinted at the last press conference of 2011. Starting next week, Minister Elsa Fornero will hold a series of bilateral meetings to prepare the dossier. On the table there will be article 8, unemployment and interventions to support the labor market, starting with the new social shock absorbers to reconcile the needs of "fairness" posed by the unions with those of growth and development necessary and desired by the executive . In addition, yesterday the owner of the Work made it known that she wanted to intervene on the practice of “blank resignation”, or rather on the increasingly recurring habit imposed on women at the time of employment in order to be able to easily interrupt the relationship in the event of maternity.
LIBERALIZATIONS – Also on this front the battle promises to be sharp, given the difficulties encountered in particular for taxis and pharmacies. However, the government is thinking of an "all-round" intervention to be carried out possibly through a decree law, in order to make the interventions immediately operational. The sectors involved will be different: from petrol to the post office, from professional orders to local public services and large networks (Snam and Fs). And, of course, also taxis and parapharmacies. In particular for public cars there is always the strong risk of a wave of protests, especially in Rome where there are as many as 8 licenses, which in the event of liberalization could become double. But of course forms of compensation would be provided, as has already happened abroad (refunds or free licenses for those who already own them). The meeting with the trade association will be rather delicate, but first on the agenda it will be Minister Passera's turn to see the petrol stations and Minister Balduzzi to visit the parapharmacies.
Liberalizations appear to be an essential reform for growth: according to data provided by the OECD, in fact, Italy is only in 31st place out of 34 countries in terms of level of liberalization of professions (accountants, engineers, architects, lawyers). It fares a little better in the ranking of services (telecommunications, gas, electricity, postal services, transport, etc.), where Italy occupies the 15th position, even if far from the scores of the best (United Kingdom and Germany). It's time to cancel the rearguard protests that seem to forget two great stone guests: economic growth and consumers.
PUBLIC WORKS - The Minister of Development Corrado Passera is working on the plan together with the deputy Mario Ciaccia: the objective is to encourage the de-bureaucratisation of public works and strengthen project financing. Among the measures being examined to increase the involvement of private capital is the adoption of new tax incentives and the extension of concessions from 30 to 50 years. Meanwhile, the Government intends unlock some construction sites right away, particularly in the South, with priority for the motorway that connects Molise to Lazio and a possibility also for the bridge over the Strait. The total value of these works is around 5 billion euros.
