Fdi: ‘Professionals are the country’s strategic asset’

“We are here because we want to thank you for the tremendous work you do every day; you are one of the cornerstones on which we are building our society.” These were the words of Arianna Meloni, head of the political secretariat of Fdi, during the Lazio leg of “Italia’s Professional Sectors, the Meloni Government’s Reforms and the Commitment of Fratelli d’Italia”, the national campaign promoted by Fratelli d’Italia’s National Department for the Professions and Fdi’s Lazio Regional Coordination Committee. The Meloni government has launched a package of reforms affecting every sector of the regulated professions: legal, healthcare, economic and technical.

“‘L’Italia delle professioni’ is a campaign that goes back a long way, to when we were in opposition, following a suggestion from Minister Lollobrigida,” added Marta Schifone, national head of the Fdi Professions Department. “ We have met thousands of professionals and they all brought their concerns, their ‘fears’ and, above all, a great deal of vision. We have kept our promises, and today they are laws in Italia: fair remuneration, scholarships for postgraduate students, the promotion of STEM subjects and many other regulations. The Meloni government has implemented a comprehensive and distinctly participatory package of reforms, driven from the grassroots, because we have continued our dialogue with the professional bodies.”

“I believe today presents a unique opportunity to bring together all the regulated professions,” said the Minister for Labour, Marina Calderone. “The fact that Giorgia Meloni chose the president of the labour consultants’ association to become Minister for Labour is a sign of respect for all professionals. ‘I believe,’ explained the Minister for Labour, ‘that any reform must absolutely be the result of dialogue with the professionals. The message is to bear clearly in mind that professionals are a fundamental asset that makes all the difference. I have always made it clear that when we talk about work, we are talking about it in its entirety, from salaried employment to self-employment. Italian professionals are everywhere and, as such, they also have the opportunity to provide the services that the public demands and needs.”

“The draft bill on professional reform has the potential to bring about consensus, but the government would be unable to do anything without FdI,” emphasised Maria Teresa Bellucci, Deputy Minister for Labour. “For us, Italia is a country based on merit, not on welfare dependency. It is education, professionalism and expertise that make the difference – a different way of thinking compared to relying on benefits. We want to revolutionise the welfare system.”

Marcello Gemmato, Under-Secretary of State for Health, outlined the key changes brought about by the reform of the healthcare professions: ‘Today,’ he pointed out, ‘the National Health Fund stands at 146 billion euros, but there is still a need to finance the Fund. We must modernise our National Health Service, by recognising the value of and strengthening our workforce of healthcare professionals.”