Rome, 23 May (LaPresse) – “The government’s strategy has been clear from the outset: to support those who create wealth and jobs.” This was stated by Giorgia Meloni, President of the Council of Ministers, on the final day of the 17th edition of the Festival of Work, organised by the National Council of the Order of Labour Advisers and the Studi Consulenti del Lavoro Foundation. “Employment in Italy has reached record levels, with 1,200,000 additional permanent employees and 550,000 fewer precarious workers,” continued President Meloni, emphasising: “The unemployment rate, both overall and among young people, has reached its lowest level ever recorded and, for the first time in history, we have exceeded the threshold of 10 million women in work. We have tackled the issue of wages through concrete measures, acting on several fronts. Thanks to the reduction in labour costs and other measures, we have increased the take-home pay of millions of workers, particularly those on average and modest incomes. We have unlocked wages that had been stagnant for years in the public sector and focused on contract renewal in the private sector by encouraging their renewal. Above all, however, we have chosen to put high-quality collective bargaining back at the centre, as this is where workers’ rights are truly protected, sector by sector. With the Employment Decree, we have enshrined a principle: only those who pay fair wages – that is, the total remuneration set by national collective agreements concluded by the most representative organisations – are eligible for public recruitment subsidies. “I would like to thank the employment advisers for what they achieve every day in the service of businesses, workers, and the economic and productive fabric. You are a guarantee of balance, competence and responsibility. You represent added value in a labour market undergoing profound transformations and major changes,” added Ms Meloni in her speech.