Just over 17,000 euros versus 23,630. This is the difference between the average annual salary of a Sardinian private sector employee and the Italian average: approximately 25% less . This figure emerged from the CISL (Italian Confederation of Labour) report "Sardinia, the Value of Work," presented yesterday in Cagliari at the initiative "Returning to Building the Future. From the CISL Green Paper to Sardinia, the Value of Work," before over 200 executives and delegates.
During the meeting—which was also attended by Governor Todde, councilors, regional councilors from both the majority and opposition parties, as well as the leaders of Confindustria Sardegna, Legacoop, Confartigianato, and Confcommercio—another telling fact was highlighted: between 2008 and 2023, real wages for Sardinian private sector employees decreased by 15.2%. The union explains that the employment disruption and the characteristics of the regional production system also contribute to this gap.
"It's not enough to say that employment is growing," warns regional secretary general Pier Luigi Ledda . "We must ask ourselves how much that work is worth, how long it lasts, and what prospects it offers." And the "levers" indicated for trying to reverse the trend are investment, productivity, contract renewals, company, regional, and supply chain bargaining, and worker participation.
The CISL's proposal is for a "Regional Social Pact" based on development, employment, and skills, born from a process of listening to workers, pensioners, and young people in the eight provincial territories.
"It's time," adds Ledda, "to move from analysis to choices, from choices to commitments, and from commitments to results."
And again: "We ask President Todde to follow up on the proposal for a structured discussion on development, employment, and skills, with a leadership team capable of linking planning, investment, and implementation agreements. We propose to businesses to strengthen investment, bargaining, and participation. We want a Pact with defined priorities, identifiable responsibilities, clear timelines, and periodic reviews. Not another document of good intentions, but a tool for achieving concrete results. The Pact we are proposing is not a Pact with a political majority. It is a Pact for Sardinia."
Andrea Cuccello , national secretary of the CISL confederation, also spoke at the initiative. He outlined the priorities of the CISL, both nationally and regionally, for improving the budget law : "Wages, contract renewals, participation, and investment are our priorities, along with concrete solutions for young people and women, from job stability to housing and work-life balance. We are calling for stronger measures in the budget on pensions, healthcare, education, and income support."