The executive illustrated the draft of the budget law which will arrive in the Council of Ministers next Monday. A note from Palazzo Chigi described the summit as “an exchange of views that took place in a constructive climate”. “We had asked for a discussion to be opened, but we found ourselves faced with incomplete information”, commented the CGIL. Uil is also dissatisfied. “We appreciated the government’s availability,” said the CISL
Sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on economic news
“An exchange of views that took place in a fruitful and constructive climate”. This is how a note from Palazzo Chigi described the meeting between the government and the social partners in which the executive illustrated the draft budget law, in view of the launch of the maneuver in the Council of Ministers next Monday. The statements of some unions have an opposite tone. “It went badly: we had asked for a discussion to be opened, we found ourselves faced with an information from the government,” said the CGIL. Uil is also dissatisfied. “We appreciated the government’s availability,” commented the CISL.
The two meetings
The discussion between the government and the social partners took place on the evening of Friday 13 October. It was divided into two separate meetings: a first table with representatives of Cgil, Cisl, Uil, Ugl, Confindustria, Abi, Ania, Casartigiani, Cna, Confartigianato, Confcommercio, Confesercenti, Cia, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Copragri, Alleanza Cooperative Italiane , Confsal; then a second meeting with representatives of Ance, Confimi Industria, Confapi, Confetra, Confedilizia, Confimprese Italia, Finco, Cisal, Usb, Cida, Ciu, Confedir, Confprofessioni, Confeservizi, Confimpresa. Present for the executive are the undersecretary to the Presidency of the Council Alfredo Mantovano, the Minister of Economy Giancarlo Giorgetti, the Minister of Labor Marina Calderone and the Deputy Minister of Economy Maurizio Leo.
The note from Palazzo Chigi
After the end of the first discussion table, Palazzo Chigi issued a note in which it speaks of “an exchange of views that took place in a fruitful and constructive climate during which the executive illustrated the pillars to the trade unions and employers’ associations of the budget bill for 2024”. The government, we read further, “has underlined how, in compliance with the sustainability of public finances, it is working on a serious, responsible and realistic maneuver in continuity with the work carried out by the government since the previous Budget law”. In particular, we read further in the note, “the government has placed absolute priority on lower incomes and pensions to counteract the negative effects of inflation, on the reduction of taxes through the confirmation of the cut in the tax and contribution wedge and the advance of the Irpef reform envisaged by the Fiscal Delegation, measures for the family with incentives for the birth rate and for working women, significant resources for the healthcare sector and the renewals of public employment contracts which have long since expired”.
The reactions of the unions
According to what we learn, during the meeting Minister Giorgetti spoke about approximately 5 billion allocated in the Budget for the renewal of public administration contracts. The government announced that “it will allocate 5 billion for the renewal of public contracts: it is an important step, but it is not exhaustive to immediately renew all contracts”, said the confederal secretary of Uil Domenico Proietti, leaving Palazzo Chigi. In the budget, he added, “there are 3 billion for healthcare, which are not enough: healthcare must be safeguarded because it concerns people’s lives. There is nothing on social security, they say they will renew quota 103 but no mention is made of the full revaluation of pensions and we fear there may still be the temptation to use pensions as ATMs. There is nothing on the Woman Option either.”
CGIL: “It went badly”
The CGIL is not satisfied. “It went badly, we had asked for a discussion to be opened, we found ourselves faced with information from the government, which was also incomplete and generic. A maneuver in the name of a return to austerity is envisaged, totally inadequate to address the social emergencies of the country”, said the confederal secretary Christian Ferrari. He added: “There are no answers, not even the 5 billion stake on the renewal of public contracts is remotely close to an objective of protecting purchasing power. There are no answers on healthcare, the few additional resources do not reverse a curve of cuts. On pensions there is confirmation of the Fornero law. Another maneuver is possible, the resources are there, you have to want to go and get them.” Citing a “frozen” Pnrr, he then explained: “There are no industrial policies. The substance is that another maneuver is possible and find the resources where they exist”, for example “by taxing the extra profits of all sectors”, instead this maneuver “will be unloaded” on the weaker groups “worsening the conditions of those who are worse off. We will continue with our mobilization”.
CISL: “We appreciated the government’s willingness”
At the end of the meeting, Luigi Sbarra, general secretary of the CISL, also spoke. On the method, he said, “we appreciated the government’s willingness to present the initial orientations and contents of the budget law and to acquire our proposals and priorities before the provision is brought to the council of ministers. On the merits, we find many proposals and priorities accepted which in recent months we have indicated as CISL”. He added that the union will then express “a definitive judgement”. And again: “The extension of the wedge cut for employees throughout 2024 is important. We have received assurances that there will also be indexation of pensions with respect to inflation next year” in the current version, on which “we have asked to make an additional effort ensuring full equalization for all pension income brackets. The first signal on the tax reform with the merging of the two low rates at 23% for incomes up to 28 thousand euros is also important”.
Glimpses of the Superbonus?
On the sidelines of the meeting at Palazzo Chigi, Federica Brancaccio, president of ANCE, also spoke about the maneuver. On the superbonus “we have had some glimmer of opening. We don’t know the contours, but we know that the problem is being brought to the attention of the government, which is not underestimated”, she said. You specified that the opening would concern “the extension, to prevent the work started from remaining unfinished. But you – you added – we have no certain information”. “The other thing that worries us, which would have a dramatic impact, is the expiration of the measures on the cost of materials on December 31st: the risk is that from January 1st the construction sites will stop”, she concluded.
Source-tg24.sky.it