We must avoid simplifications and hasty judgments on labor reform, and instead initiate a discussion with the government, ahead of the implementing decrees, to concretely address the problematic aspects. We cannot shirk our role as a union: achieving guarantees and protections for workers are our goals.
Those who strike do so for political reasons. They are trying to exploit the left's eternal divisions by exploiting workers to create new parties, which is why they are given prominence on every TV, radio, and newspaper.
To inform workers of the true content of the Jobs Act and the CISL's demands, the Ferrara branch of the FIM has recently organized a leaflet distribution in front of the largest companies in the Ferrara area.
The FIM reiterates that it is illusory to expect "miraculous" effects on employment from labor market regulations. Employment can only grow if investments and industrial projects are revived. The FIM already sounded the government's wake-up call on September 30th, with a demonstration in front of Parliament. Jobs are created by defending and revitalizing industry. In 10 years, there have been five labor market reforms that have created zero jobs.
THE JOBS ACT CONTAINS SOME POSITIVE CHOICES:
– overcome certain forms of precarious employment, particularly those false self-employment contracts used as a substitute for dependent employment, such as joint ventures, coordinated and ongoing collaborations, and false VAT numbers;
– create a universal social safety net system that also applies to workers in small businesses and self-employed workers;
– significant cost reductions for permanent hires. However, to have significant effects, the duration of the contract must be extended and it must be clarified that it must be additional employment;
– strengthening expansive solidarity contracts, in addition to defensive ones, to distribute work and encourage hiring through reduced working hours;
– more effective active labor policies accessible in every area of the country, through coordination between the public (mainstream and reference), private, and bilateral systems, aimed at finding employment solutions in the face of job loss.
AND PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS:
– the rules on Article 18 for new hires with contracts with increasing protections must be clarified and defined only on a transitional basis during the entry-level phase.
For a more careful assessment, however, it should be kept in mind that layoffs are already underway for economic reasons (600,000 from 2009 to today), and all or almost all of them were protected by Article 18.
– the revision of the rules on job descriptions, demotions, and remote monitoring must preserve the function of bargaining and avoid losing important aspects of worker protection.
– the process of reforming social safety nets must be carefully defined to avoid reducing support for workers in crisis situations and business closures.
FOR THESE REASONS, IT IS NECESSARY TO AVOID SIMPLIFICATIONS AND SUMMARY JUDGMENTS ON THE LABOR REFORM, AND INSTEAD TO OPEN A DISCUSSION PHASE WITH THE GOVERNMENT, IN VIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTING DECREES, TO CONCRETELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEMATIC ASPECTS. WE CANNOT ESCAPES FROM OUR TRADE UNION ROLE: OBTAINING GUARANTEES AND PROTECTIONS FOR WORKERS ARE OUR GOALS.
