Referendum campaign launched

CGIL, Italy’s largest union confederation, last month formally launched its campaign for a yes vote in five separate referendums. The referendum mechanism, enshrined in the Italian constitution, allows citizens to repeal existing laws.

If passed by a sufficient majority — at least half of those entitled to vote must take part in the ballot — they are binding on the government.

CGIL, which collected around five million votes last year to get to this stage, wants four changes to employment law to: restore the right of unfairly dismissed workers to be reinstated; remove the cap on dismissal payments in companies with fewer than 15 employees; change the rules on temporary workers, and; extend liability for accidents at work to sub-contractors.

It is also backing a change in the law to allow non-Italians to apply for citizenship after five years’ residency — as in the past — rather than the current 10.

The referendums must take place between 15 April and 15 June.