Minimum wage risks making pay worse says Meloni

(ANSA) - ROME, AUG 9 - Premier Giorgia Meloni on Wednesday criticized the idea of bringing in a minimum wage in Italy, two days before talks with the opposition parties on their bill to introduce one.
    "Why didn't I accept the minimum-wage proposal as it is presented?" she said in a Facebook live broadcast in relation to the opposition's bill for a minimum wage of nine euros an hour.
    "Because if I set a law for a minimum figure for hourly pay for everyone, it would inevitably be in the middle.
    "There is a danger it would become a substitute parameter, not an additional one, worsening many more salaries than the ones it improves".
    Riccardo Magi, secretary of the More Europe (Più Europa) party, said that he was wondering if it is worth going ahead with the meeting after Meloni "reiterated the rigidity of her position.
    "If there's the will to open up to our proposal then fine," he said.
    "Otherwise, we won't gift this government a stage to be able to say 'look how good we are'.
    "If there's a real desire for dialogue, Friday's meeting is welcome.
    "If it's just total confrontation, we're better off meeting in parliament to see who wants a minimum wage and who doesn't".
    (ANSA).