Article 18 won't stop investments any more, says Renzi

(ANSA) - Rome, November 21 - Premier Matteo Renzi said implementation of the government's Jobs Act labour reform in the new year will mean Article 18 of the 1970 Workers Statute is no longer an obstacle to investing in Italy. "The intention is to provoke you," Renzi told the Business Europe meeting of industrialists. "We are freeing up the traditional Italian system. Article 18 is a symbol of the Italian system that is no longer an obstacle," he said, adding that his government was committed to tax cuts. The premier said the final vote on the controversial Jobs Act should be held in parliament on December 9 and the legislation will come into force with an enacting decree in January. Renzi recently reached an agreement to amend the Jobs Act, softening changes to Article 18, which defends workers from unfair dismissal, to win over opponents to the bill from within his own centre-left Democratic Party (PD). But two of Italy's big three trade union confederations, the CGIL and UIL, have called a general strike for December 12 to protest against the reform and the government's 2015 budget law.
    On Thursday, Renzi blasted that decision, saying the unions were "inventing" reasons to strike, while he concerned himself with trying to combat recession-battered Italy's record unemployment levels.
    Renzi added Friday that his ambitious programme of institutional and structural economic reforms was also needed for Italy to have credibility in a demands for change at the European Union level. "We are certain of the need to change the EU, but first we have to change ourselves," he told the European industry chiefs.
    "We have to transmit a message of radical change".