RomaLabor reform will be a central theme of the next legislative session, and the parties will have many issues to resolve: undeclared work, basic income, tax wedge reduction, and the minimum wage. This was discussed today in a live debate on Dire TV, moderated by Dire Agency director Nico Perrone, between regional councilor and Democratic Party candidate Marta Leonori, Paola Mancini, candidate for the Brothers of Italy party, and labor lawyer Francesco Rotondi, founder of the Lablaw law firm.
Leonori (PD): fight against black market and pirate contracts, no more unpaid internships
"The pillars of the program of the Democratic Party "These are jobs, the environment, and rights. Let's start by fighting undeclared work, informal work, and pirate contracts, which create unfair competition, even for entrepreneurs who want to invest in our country." These are the words of Marta Leonori, vice president of the Committee for the Implementation of Laws of the Lazio Regional Council, in her speech today during the live debate with Lablaw - Studio Legale Rotondi & Partners, on DireTv.
"We are therefore also committed to introducing a minimum wage in accordance with European guidelines and reducing the tax wedge," Leonori continued. "And we are committed to addressing our country's greatest vulnerabilities, which are territorial, gender, and age-related. Youth employment data puts us at the tail end of Europe, even though Europe has invested heavily in young people with the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). I am proud of my party," she added, "which in Parliament has defined investments precisely along these three axes, so much so that at the end of this legislature we saw the approval of the equal pay law, which can allow for investment in equal opportunities and services."
Even on the issue of young people, Leonori said, "we have a clear commitment: no more unpaid internships. They're not work, they're exploitation. Our commitment is to strengthen apprenticeships, to provide a work tool for businesses and promote training."
Then came the topic of new jobs, with "investments in smart working and agile working, and the recognition of new jobs, particularly on digital platforms." Again on new jobs, Leonori said she was "convinced that we don't always have to intervene with laws, but we can't ignore the fact that in some cases the labor market has changed significantly, and some existing laws don't adapt to the transformations we've experienced over the last 10 years. The new model and the new way of working also require legislative intervention."
"The Citizen's Income needs to be addressed," Leonori said. However, the income "has highlighted an issue, which especially affects the most vulnerable groups: there are job offers with unacceptable conditions, if we want to call it work. An assessment needs to be made, but it's not a measure that should be abolished. Scams exist and must be fought, but they are a residual part. The job supply aspect needs to be strengthened. A balance must be found between the Citizen's Income and strengthening the workforce," she concluded.
Mancini (FDI): rediscover proximity contract, no to rdc and minimum wage
"We are for a free, fair, and participatory labor market. This doesn't mean introducing a minimum wage, because the bargaining gap can be addressed with existing tools. Company and local bargaining must be encouraged, and the local contract must be rediscovered." This was stated during the debate by Paola Mancini, candidate for the Brothers of Italy party.
"In Italy, there are active policies designed for emergency interventions, but they are ineffective in the face of a constantly evolving labor market. Tools that can support individuals are essential. The first step is training: internships in schools and universities, structured work-study programs. Then, on-the-job training is needed. It's time to establish a sort of training account. A fund for individuals to spend on retraining, regardless of their current job," he stated.
Regarding the Citizen's Income, "it should have made sense in combating poverty through work," he said, "but we cannot accept a measure that demotivates workers, who become inactive, and fuels the black market.
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Today, wages are lower than in European countries. The tax wedge must be reduced."
Still on the RDC, "I believe the fraudulent nature of the scheme is very significant (5 billion). The RDC has discouraged work and encouraged undeclared work. The young man isn't interested in taking action because he received the RDC: we need to offer him a different proposal." Another topic touched on was smart working: "The pandemic," Mancini stated, "has brought a new order to business processes.
This new structure must not be obtusely impeded because it is the fruit of the new organization. Then there is corporate welfare, with the company becoming a vehicle for welfare. Work-life balance cannot be structured solely with salary and leave tools, but also with tools that meet care needs—not wages, but goods and services.
And on social security: "It must have a new foundation," Mancini said. "We should implement a pension reform that puts young people at the center, because we are raising a generation without future guarantees. We also incentivize welfare to address a generational pact that, given our low birth rate, is no longer sustainable," he concluded.
Rotondi (Lablaw): global reform needed, no random laws
"It's unthinkable to imagine the fight against undeclared work as an innovation. The problem isn't a declaration to that effect, but rather implementing those controls. The center-right and center-left's programs all have their place. There are no issues that need to be eliminated from the reform process. But it seems to me that there's a lack of will to do something structural. Instead, we need to rethink the general principles. If they always remain the same, everything that happens with the new legislation becomes extraordinary." These are the words of Francesco Rotondi, founder and managing partner of LabLaw Studio Legale Rotondi & Partners.
On the topic of new jobs, "I don't see the concept of novelty in work. There are no new jobs; they've been around for decades. We don't need laws, but organizations that can accommodate them and make the business sustainable. If we don't pay attention to new organizations, we won't have any reform that can achieve those results. When we talk about labor market reform, we also need to address the 'how,' otherwise we'll remain mere statements." For Rotondi, "the idea of territoriality is fundamental. It's impossible to think about blanket laws. Even the minimum wage is crazy to imagine being universally applicable: €9 an hour might be fine for a specific area but not guarantee a decent life elsewhere."
And again: "I don't understand why acknowledging difference should be a catalyst for inequality: it's the opposite, it's fairness. This applies to both wages and social safety nets. When they arrive without taking inequality into account, they create further inequality."
Rotondi believes "we need to implement a comprehensive reform that also addresses the self-employed, because there's now a level playing field between employed and self-employed workers. The concept of difference needs to be rethought. Even young people," he added, "can't be imagined as having a permanent job, because they want to move around and learn. This needs to be addressed and considered."
What should the priorities be? "Given this current historical moment, the first strong signal must be on reducing the tax wedge and liberalizing the market. Liberalization doesn't mean piracy: it means having a fair and equitable market, but without limits that impede its realization."
And regarding the social partners, "both entrepreneurs and workers need to make a step up because in recent decades they haven't fully embraced the changes and haven't seized great opportunities," he said. "It's an internal factor that needs to be supported, not stigmatized.
However, let us remember that all the gaps in the laws have been filled either through case law or through collective bargaining," he concluded.
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