Monti tackles Italy unions over labour reforms

After raising taxes and cutting public spending, Mario Monti’s government of technocrats is taking on the trade unions in the next stage of his emergency plan to return Italy’s stalled economy to growth.

Italy is almost unique in Europe in posting falling productivity rates over the past decade and Mr Monti’s reforms are aimed at liberalising the labour market by introducing more flexible contracts backed by a more comprehensive system of social welfare to encourage workers to switch jobs.

ESO: Background information: Italy’s unions strike against austerity bill http://www.europeansources.info/record/italys-unions-strike-against-austerity-bill/

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