Decree of near retirees 'excludes women'

(ANSA) - Rome, April 14 - Women may currently be precluded from the benefits of a new decree making it easier for people close to retirement to go part time at the end of their careers, it has emerged.
    Under the provision signed by Labour Minister Giuliano Poletti on Wednesday, private sector workers on full-time permanent contracts who have at least 20 years of pension contributions and the requisites to retire before the end of 2018 will be able to cut a deal with their employees for a reduction in their hours of between 40% and 60%.
    In practice, the measure applies to people born before May 1952. However, recent changes to pensions laws mean that women may not be able to take advantage of this option, since those born in 1951 have already retired while those born in 1952 are due to retire this year. People that can benefit from the change will receive in their pay packet, on top of the money for the hours they work, a sum that is equivalent to the social security contributions that the employer would have paid for the hours they no longer work.
    Furthermore, the State will also give them a social security contribution for the hours they no longer do so that their pension will be what they would have received had they continued to work full time.