The Italian Government has signed a ‘pact’ with Public Service unions which it says will lead to more innovation in the bureaucracy and social cohesion throughout the country.
Premier, Mario Draghi (pictured) stressed the importance of having responsible dialogue with the unions.
“During the course of the talks I have had the opportunity to express to you how much I care about these talks and this dialogue,” Mr Draghi, a former European Central Banker, told leaders of the three major union federations.
He said the pact marked the start of investing in new blood and reform in the Public Service, which had been requested by the European Union as a condition for Italy receiving COVID-19 recovery funding.
“The pandemic and the recovery plan require new professionalism and new forms of work,” Mr Draghi said.
“New professionalism requires investment and new rules; that is what we are beginning today,” he said.
The Prime Minister was credited with saving the euro during his stint at the European Central Bank, and has vowed to achieve the long-called-for Public Service reforms to cut business-stifling red tape.
He has also pledged to speed up Italy’s notoriously slow civil justice system, another big drag on foreign investment.
Known as ‘Super Mario’, he said at the signing of the pact that reforms would also target the average age and staff training in the Public Service.
Minister for the Public Service, Renato Brunetta hailed the pact as “a breakthrough”.
Mr Brunetta said he would now begin talks with union leaders on how the pact would be implemented.
Rome, 11 March 2021
