Boeri warns against partial measures in pension reform

(ANSA) - Naples, October 9 - Tito Boeri, president of Italy's state pension and social security agency INPS, on Friday said that an "organic and structural intervention" is needed for Italian pension reform, not "partial measures drop by drop".
    "There really needs to be one last pension reform in order to not have to intervene later on," Boeri said, speaking at a presentation of the Campania region's social audit.
    "I prefer not to say anything on the budget bill until there's a draft. Now there are only a few days left so we'll wait to see what comes out," he said.
    "It's clear that there are very strict constraints. I hope that there's space to take serious action concerning pensions," Boeri said. Premier Matteo Renzi's government said it plans to take action to solve some of the unwanted after effects of a 2011 pension reform in its 2016 budget law.
    The 2011 reform raised the retirement age and increased the years of contributions needed to take early retirement, thus creating 'esodati' (exiled ones) - people who were left without pay or a pension after leaving jobs, as under the old rules, they were eligible to retire.
    There have been six interventions on behalf of the 250,000 or more esodati but some 50,000 have still not been helped.
    As well as helping the remaining esodati, the government is considering finding ways to make the system more flexible, so people close to retirement age can quit working early, if they take a cut in their monthly pensions.