Some 84 people were cited
Wednesday for getting the government's 'citizenship wage' basic
income while working off the books between May and October this
year, sources said.
The 84 were discovered in police operations against
gangmastering and other forms of exploitation.
"In the course of the controls we discovered 84 people who
were working off the books, but at the same time were getting
the citizenship wage," said the head of the Carabinieri's job
protection unit, General Gerardo Iorio.
There have been several similar cases in the last few months.
The basic income is one of the flagship policies of the
anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S).
When it was passed, M5S leader Luigi Di Maio said "we have
abolished poverty".
Under the scheme. so-called 'navigators' help the unemployed
get jobs.
Applicants must take up one of three job offers or risk
losing the benefit.
There has been controversy over the failure to fill up all
the navigators slots.
Critics also say the policy is open to benefit fraud.
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