A “bonus” in regional contracts for companies that guarantee better conditions for workers, starting with the introduction of a minimum wage of 9 euros gross per hour .
This is the proposal contained in a bill presented by the Five Star Movement group in the regional council.
The proposal, supported by other center-left forces leading the Region, aims to "counteract contractual dumping and reward companies that guarantee better conditions for workers."
"Today, according to data from the Mestre CGA, 5.7 million Italian workers earn less than €800, and compared to the minimum wage threshold, Sardinian workers are among the poorest. Italy is still one of the few countries that hasn't established a minimum wage threshold," explained Alessandro Solinas, the first signatory and president of the Budget Committee.
The text of the legislative initiative, already adopted a year ago by the Puglia Regional Council, according to M5S group leader Michele Ciusa, "focuses on the dignity of workers, especially in services like concierge and security. It is a sign of civility that we hope will also reach the national government."
Specifically, the law concerns procurement or concession contracts awarded by the Region, local authorities, local health authorities, and subsidiaries. In public procurement contracts based on the award criterion of the most economically advantageous tender, the text states, contracting authorities must consider new qualitative criteria, such as: worker well-being and safety, workplace safety certifications and training, environmental sustainability, promotion of female and youth employment, and the provision of childcare services (company nurseries, play areas).
But the proposal immediately sparked a political conflict. "The broad camp has already approved a similar measure in Tuscany and Puglia, laws later challenged by the government because the regulation of employment relationships falls under the exclusive legislative power of the state," commented Fausto Piga, deputy group leader of the FdI (Italian Left) in the council.
For Piga, this is a "forced approach" also "because the intention is to favor only companies that work in the public administration to the detriment of self-employed individuals who do not work with regional public contracts."
(Unioneonline/lf)