Govt to expand 'solidarity contracts'

(ANSA) - Rome, September 11 - The Senate Labour committee on Thursday approved a government amendment to its Jobs Act that will simplify and broaden the scope of so-called "solidarity contracts". Solidarity contracts are currently those in which workers agree to change their hours or pay conditions to prevent redundancies. But the changes would expand such contracts, so that it would be possible to have reductions in hours or changes in salaries to make it possible for a firm to take on more workers.
    The aim is to "increase employment" said the government.
    Unemployment in Italy has climbed to over 12% as the country endures its third recession since the start of the global economic crisis in 2008, with over 40% of under-25s are jobless. The Jobs Act bill is part of the government's efforts to revamp the labour market to combat this problem.