Premier Mario Draghi's cabinet is set
to approve the 2022 budget bill on Thursday after an agreement
on pension reform was reached at a meeting of representatives of
the parties supporting the executive on Wednesday.
Draghi had said that, after three years, the 'quota 100' pension
system allowing for early retirement if the sum of age and years
worked reached 100 would be scrapped on the grounds that it is
too costly for the State.
But Italy's trade unions and Matteo Salvini's League, which
championed the quota 100 when it as passed by a past government,
were unhappy about this.
On Wednesday a compromise was agreed that will see the 'quota
100' system replaced in 2022 by one which will require this sum
of age and years of contributions to equal at least 102.
The compromise leaves what will happen after 2022 open.
Draghi reportedly wanted bring in a 'quota 102' or 'quota 104'
system as a temporary stepping stone to a system in which
everyone would have to reach the full retirement age of over 67
to start claiming a State pension.
Draghi has also decided to definitively scrap the 'cashback'
system in which consumers could get up 150 euros from the State
every six months by using cards to make purchases.
The system, which sought to fight tax evasion by encouraging
people to use payment methods that can be traced and was passed
by the previous government of 5-Star Movement (M5S) leader
Giuseppe Conte, was suspended at the start of the year.
"Now we must work to make our country even more fair and
cohesive," said Draghi.
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