The leaders of Italy's CGIL and UIL trade unions on Monday expressed dissatisfaction at a meeting with Premier Giorgia Meloni's government on measures to boost workplace safety amid an alarm over a spate of accidents and deaths.
These include this month's collapse at a Florence supermarket-construction site that left five people dead and three more injured.
"We are very far from what we asked for," said CGIL leader Maurizio Landini.
"The responses received today are not adequate and we intend to continue with mobilization (against the executive) in all possible forms.
"There were no discussions for months, then they meet us today to tell us that at 3.30pm there will be a cabinet meeting on a (draft legislation) texts that only they have talked about.
"This isn't good.
"The meeting was not up to par both in terms of method and content".
UIL Chief Pierpaolo Bombardieri was critical too, especially of plans for a points-based licence system for firms to boost workplace health and safety.
"People continue to die, we have had enough talk," said Bombardieri.
He said the government had provided "partial answers" and complained there is "no clear economic coverage" for the measures to boost safety.
"Everything is to yet to be decided and defined," he said.
"There is a licence. The life of a worker is worth 20 credits.
"You can work with 15 credits and recover five with a training course".
CISL Secretary General Luigi Sbarra, in contrast, said the meeting went well.
"It was a positive meeting, in which the government illustrated some elements of its upcoming safety decree, expressing openness to union contributions for improvements and additions," said Sbarra, the head of the second-biggest of Italy's three major trade-union confederations.
"(Labour Minister Marina) Calderone announced a desire to strengthen controls, inspections, hiring (of safety-related officials), penalties and investments.
"These measures must be linked to a comprehensive, concerted national strategy in order to follow up on the discussions and build a pact to put an end to a silent massacre".
(see related stories on NRRP, CISL)
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