Italian workers must be patient, there is still to wait before knowing the fate of the much controversial article 18. The Minister of Labour, Elsa Fornero, has chosen to stall: “We will leave the topic of outbound flexibility for last, on which you have not found a point of convergence”, he said today during the third meeting with the social partners on labor reform. This morning at Palazzo Chigi the secretaries of CGIL, CISL and UIL were present, as well as representatives of Confindustria, Rete Imprese Italia, ABI and Ania. The negotiations will continue at the ministry next Monday.
Fornero assured that there will be no “no aut aut from the government on the reform“, it is not a question of “take it or leave it”. However "it must be clear that the issue of reorganizing contracts and incoming flexibility is subordinate to the issue of outgoing flexibility".
As for the contracts, "we have not chosen the ax method to reduce them", added the minister, underlining that the review will concern both private and public work. The fundamental objective of the Executive remains "the preservation of flexibility and the elimination of abuses".
On this last point, to counter "the improper use of forms of flexibility and self-employment in subordinate forms - explains Fornero - we want to introduce sanctions and controls. There are too many VAT numbers, but it is necessary to avoid discontinuity and that thousands of workers end up on the black market".
Finally, apprenticeship for young people, which according to the minister "must become the typical way for young people to enter the world of work". Until today “it has been used as a vehicle of flexibility, but in reality it is a vehicle of training. We must be very strict, there will be no tolerance for the improper use of apprenticeships”.
CAMUSSO: THERE IS NO ARTICLE 18 THEME
"We have reconfirmed to the government that for us there is no issue called article 18", but "the timing and methods of the procedures can be discussed". These are the words of Susanna Camusso, leader of the CGIL, at the end of today's meeting.
Fornero - as revealed by the trade unionist - admits that there is "an excess of repetitiveness" on fixed-term contracts and "this creates a trap for the workers. The minister speaks of sick flexibility. I call it precariousness”.
The judgment on today's meeting is in any case favourable: "One positive and not obvious thing is that negotiations are actually starting on the right foot, and that is on the answers we have to give to young people".
BONANNI: THE GOVERNMENT WILL ANYWAY INTERVENE ON ARTICLE 18
For Raffaele Bonanni, number one of the CISL, "the government still wants to intervene on article 18. I hope there is reasonableness from the business world, from the government, from the political parties and also from the trade unions".
