Labour, Mattarella: 'One thousand lives broken every year are an unacceptable toll'

'There is a scourge that shows no signs of healing, reports of workers losing their lives at work continue: safety at work remains a commitment that does not allow for waivers or distinctions. This is an unacceptable toll'. So said the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella, celebrating Labour Day in Pontedera.

"The chronicles return us, almost daily, news of workers losing their lives, being injured, in the course of their activities. Safety at work remains a commitment, a duty, which does not allow for renunciation or distinctions. In the workplace and on the way to work, more than a thousand lives are lost every year. In remembering them, renewing our sympathy to the families of the victims, we reiterate that this is an unacceptable toll. The fight against carelessness, illegality and carelessness must involve everyone. It is the chronicles that tell us that what we do is still not enough to protect the health of those who work. Entrepreneurs, workers, institutions, society. Organisation, respect for rules, a common safety culture must improve,' Mattarella noted.

"In terms of productivity and innovation capacity, there is a competitive deficit in Europe. It is necessary to eliminate as soon as possible the barriers that still prevent a complete unification of our internal markets," but above all, it must be understood that it is "time for a vision and not for short-lived measures," said the President of the Republic. "We must direct investments in the most strategic sectors with the greatest potential for growth," he added.

"Industry is a pillar for Italia. Manufacturing contributes 15% to the national GDP. Second in Europe, eighth in the world, Italian manufacturing is a fundamental vehicle and engine of growth. In order to be actors, and not flat curators of a past inheritance, we know that there is no need to linger on sterilely measuring reality on the images sent back by the rear-view mirror, but we must look ahead. We must be guided by the capacity for innovation based on sustainability, a far-sighted element for the resilience of companies in an increasingly complex world,' Mattarella added.

Another 'critical point' to be understood as a 'reserve' for potential development is youth work. The age of entry into the labour market is still too high. Young people are little listened to in our society. There is little attention to their maturation and independence. If we look at workers defined as 'independent' who work for one employer - in short, self-employed workers without autonomy - we find that the largest proportion are precisely those under 30. There are many well-educated young people who leave our country to work abroad. They are more than those who come to Italia. In the interest of the country, this trend must be reversed,' the Head of State insisted.