Labour Minister Marina Calderone said
Wednesday that there is no danger that the government's phasing
out of the citizenship wage (RdC) minimum-income benefit will
set off a "social bomb".
Some 159,000 families in Italy were told by text message that
their RdC was being cut last month, sparking concern about what
will happen to the people losing their welfare cheques amid
confusion about the benefits that will replace the citizenship
wage.
The government, which says the RdC took away people's incentive
to find work and was too susceptible to fraud, has since
clarified the situation.
People considered fit for work will be able to present a claim
to social-security agency INPS for the Labour Formation Support
(SFL) benefit, which is dependent on them having enrolled on a
training programme to help them re-enter the labour market.
Households in which there are minors, disabled people or people
over 60 will be able to keep receiving the RdC until the end of
the year and then claim a new benefit, the inclusion cheque
(ADI), worth a maximum of 500 euros a month per individual.
The SFL benefit will be worth up to 350 euros a month, payable
for a maximum of 12 months.
"Are we on the verge of a social bomb? Absolutely not,"
Calderone said at the presentation of the SIISL IT platform,
which will be active from September 1 for former RdC claimants
to apply for the SFL.
"The figures tell us that the situation is absolutely
manageable".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
