Italy’s CGIL Launches Historic Referendum to Fight Low Wages and “Working Poor” Disaster
Rome, June 15, 2025 – Italy’s largest commerce union, CGIL, has triggered a landmark referendum to deal with the nation’s epidemic of low wages and in-work poverty, difficult the Meloni authorities’s labor insurance policies. The transfer comes as over 4.2 million Italian staff—22% of the workforce—earn lower than €9/hour, trapping them within the “working poor” bracket regardless of full-time employment.
The Referendum: Key Calls for
CGIL’s proposed referendum, set for autumn 2025, seeks to:
✔ Abolish sub-minimum wages for apprentices and under-25s (presently as little as €3-4/hour in some sectors).
✔ Lengthen collective bargaining protection, guaranteeing all employers adhere to sector-wide wage agreements.
✔ Strengthen penalties for corporations dodging honest pay by way of faux part-time contracts or undeclared labor.
Italy’s “Working Poor” Disaster
Regardless of financial development, wage stagnation has left 1 in 5 staff struggling to afford lease, utilities, or groceries. The worst-hit sectors—logistics, tourism, and gig economic system jobs—typically pay under €7.50/hour after deductions.
“Now we have supply riders with levels incomes €5/hour, cleaners working 12-hour shifts for €800/month—this isn’t dignity, it’s exploitation,” stated CGIL chief Maurizio Landini.
Authorities Pushback
The Meloni administration dismissed the referendum as “union overreach”, arguing that inflexible wage guidelines might harm SMEs. Economic system Minister Giancarlo Giorgetti claimed “market flexibility” protects jobs—a stance critics name “a license to underpay.”
What’s Subsequent?
If CGIL collects 500,000 signatures by July, the referendum will proceed. Polls present 68% of Italians assist wage reform, however enterprise lobbies vow authorized challenges. With the EU investigating Italy’s labor abuses, the vote might pressure a reckoning.
— The Staff’ Voice (by CGIL-affiliated press)
✊ Solidarity hashtags: #BastaStipendiDaFame (#EnoughStarvationWages) #ReferendumCGIL
