The Italian government is
listening to protest groups and labour unions who staged a
series of demonstrations across Italy Friday, but it must also
abide by EU rules, said Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti.
"We listen to the piazza, but we must be willing to move
forward with the implementation of reforms, we cannot afford to
touch the brakes because the EU asks us to be consistent with
our commitments," said Poletti.
He spoke as trade unions and student organizations
protested against the policies of Premier Matteo Renzi's
government on Friday with a general strike and rallies
throughout the recession-hit country.
The one-dau strike, called by two of Italy's three big
trade union confederations, the CGIL and the UIL, was marred by
violence at protests in Milan and Turin.
At the same time, social housing activists clashed with
police in riot gear at a piazza near a building in central Rome
that had been occupied earlier by activists.
Flares were thrown as police cleared the building.
Across the country, the strike and rallies against the
government caused massive disruption, with public transport
services badly affected.
Organizers said over 50 rallies were taking place in cities
nationwide to contest the government's controversial Jobs Act
labour reform, which weakens protection for newly hired workers
against unfair dismissal in a bid to encourage firms to take on
staff and combat record unemployment levels.
Action has also been called to protest against the
government's 2015 budget bill, which features 15 billion euros
in spending cuts, plus 18 billion euros in tax cuts aimed at
boosting the recession-hit economy.
At the same time, intense pressure is being brought on
Renzi's government to enact significant reforms that will help
to bring the massive national debt and deficit under limits set
by the European Union.
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