There are only four months left until the definition of the next budget law, also called to clarify the evolution of the social security system in 2023, but the table on the new mini-pension reform is still standing. And to reveal a certain pessimism about the possibility of adopting new measures on outgoing flexibility is the president of INPS himself, Pasquale Tridico: “we have been talking about it for too long and probably not even this legislature will be able to close this construction site”. they are there and intensify the pressure to reopen the confrontation with the executive, which was interrupted in mid-February. And even in the majority, the social security front is reopening, with the Lega aiming to introduce Quota 41, or the possibility of retiring upon reaching the forty-first year of contributions regardless of age, from the beginning of next year, when Quota 102 introduced by the Draghi government will run out. Which, however, was rejected by Brussels, together with Quota 100, in the report on Italy published with the “recommendations” of the EU Commission in which a new alarm is also launched on the continued growth of social security spending.
The red light in Brussels at Quota 100 and Quota 102
In the Country Report on Italy included in the so-called spring package, the European Commission states that pension expenditure “is destined to increase” due to unfavorable demographic developments. But Brussels points out that the numerous exceptions to the Fornero law introduced in recent years are also driving pension outflows in the short and medium term. Starting from Quota 100 and also from Quota 102: the way out with at least 64 years of age and 38 contributions provided for this year only by the latest budget law approved by Parliament. Women’s option and early retirement programs for vulnerable workers are also targeted.
The “construction site” at the pole
The harsh judgment of Brussels could have the effect of eliminating the already limited space available to adopt new measures for the “after Quota 102”, which will run out at the end of 2022. At the beginning of the year, the government and trade unions had started a confrontation to arrive at a mini-reform to be included in the next maneuver, which however stopped in mid-February mainly due to the executive’s need to concentrate efforts on other emergencies, such as those related to the energy crisis and the outbreak of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict . When the table was frozen the government and CGIL, CISL and UIL had significantly reduced the distance on at least three points: the “pension coverage” of young people with discontinuous careers; further social security benefits for female workers; a new phase of “silent assent” to allocate the severance pay to pension funds and thus relaunch supplementary pensions. The main knot of output flexibility remained to be solved. With the government that had set a precise stake stating that any solution had to remain in the wake of the contribution calculation method and should not lead to a further increase in spending. But more than three months have passed since February and the “construction site” is still closed today.
Tridico: it is probable that this legislature will also close with no flexibility on the way out
Even the words spoken by Tridico do not seem marked by optimism. “We have been talking about the flexibility of the pension system for too long and probably not even this legislature will be able to close this construction site: at least it does not seem to me that this chapter is about to be closed”, said the INPS president at an organized conference from La Sapienza University for the presentation of the 2022 Social Status Report 35 years after the death of Federico Caffè. Tridico has also relaunched its proposal to allow, at the age limit of 63-64 years, the exit with the advance of the contribution portion of the pension only and then also recover the salary part upon reaching the age of 67.
Lega and trade unions insist and look to Quota 41
CGIL, CISL and UIL do not give up and continue to invoke the reopening of the table, reiterating that the best solution remains that of allowing retirement around 62 years of age or the accrual of 41 years of contributions. And Quota 41 remains the workhorse of the League. Who met the trade unions in mid-May to analyze the pension scheme. Il Carroccio is also intensifying the pressure on the government to avoid the full return to the Fornero law with the stop at the end of the year at Quota 102.