Italy: Lombardy could cancel subsidies to businesses that relocate

“For those who take their facilities and production abroad, leaving our workers on the street, there will be no exceptions” declared the President of Lombardy’s regional budget committee (Commissione Bilancio)m Fabrizio Ceccheti (North League) when he presented the amendment to the regional development scheme proposed by the North League’s advisors – Massimiliano Romeo, Ugo Parolo and Renzo Bossi.  A great majority of the committee approved this amendment on Wednesday, September 22nd.  The text provides for “disencouragement measures and up to the cancellation of regional subsidies for businesses that relocate, sell units or contract out productive activities” at the expense of local employment and the regional industrial fabric.  The Democratic Party also approved this amendment.  However, the regional CGIL remains alert, afraid that this is merely “another of the League’s announcements” and reminding of the emergency to summon a “table on the region’s development.”  The union reminded that, in this region, extraordinary Cassa Integrazione went up by 219% compared with 2009 and that 75% of new recruitments are precarious.  However, the Assolombarda employers’ organization is worried about a “Manichean application” of this standard because, it reminded, “There are positive relocation cases meeting the challenges of globalization and international growth.”  The regional development scheme, which also provides for subsidies to increase local production, should be permanently adopted by the Regional Council on September 28th.