On the evening of Thursday 17 January, Italy’s council of ministers approved the legislative decree containing two of the coalition government’s flagship measures: the so-called ‘citizens’ income’ and ‘quota 100’ system for pensions. The changes will come into effect from April and will be supported by funding set aside in the 2019 budget. According to the government, the citizens’ income is both a measure to help people enter or re-enter the world of work and one that combats poverty. Meanwhile the retirement reform, which allows people to retire at the age of 62 (as opposed to 67), provided they have made 38 years of contributions, is a change that will foster generational renewal within companies, the government adds.
Re-entry into the world of work. The so-called citizens’ income was one of the Five Star Movement’s primary electoral pledges. It is a complex policy made up of measures that the government describes as “’anti-couch”. The citizen’s income consists of welfare payments of up to 780 euros per month for an individual, paid out for a period of 18 months, with the option that this be renewed for another 18-month period. The recipient and all adults in their family will have to sign a ‘pact for work’, if they have a qualification, or a ‘pact for training’. In the case of individuals unable to work, they will need to sign a ‘pact for social inclusion’.
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