Family-oriented labour and welfare. Eurispes at the meeting for the Adnkronos Demographic project
Today, at the Palazzo dell’Informazione in Rome, a meeting on “Family-oriented labour and welfare” took place as part of the Adnkronos Demographic project. The topics addressed during the meeting, which was also attended by Eurispes, concerned the birth rate, the growing and unstoppable demographic decline, insufficient welfare that is poorly targeted to the real needs of the population, and the lack of attention paid to female employment policies and the reconciliation of work and family life.
«Natality and work are two fundamental issues for any country and even more so for Italy, which is at the bottom of the list in Europe in terms of births and female employment – stressed Davide Desario, Director of the Adnkronos Agency, while introducing the proceedings. It is necessary to reverse the trend and it must be said that the lion’s share must be taken by the institutions. We must change our perspective on the idea of birth and family, not as a burden but as a great wealth».
According to Eurispes data, public spending on families and children stood at 1.1% of GDP in 2019, rising to between 1.2 and 1.3% of GDP in 2020. Numbers that rank us second among countries with the lowest expenditure.
«We are a country where there is much debate about family and its importance, yet in reality family has never been the centre of attention of the ruling classes – emphasised Alberto Mattiacci, President of the Eurispes Scientific Committee –. The subject of demographics runs on a sentiment that prevails over everything in our country today, namely the fear of the future and the sense of alarm among the younger generations». According to Mattiacci, «we need a state response, a personal response including financial education, which is central, and the answer of the labour world with the activity of companies».
It is precisely from the labour world that worrying signals are arriving. According to an Eurispes survey, only 49.6% of workers think that their jobs allow them to make plans for the future and guarantee security for their families. Having children, therefore, means for many making big economic sacrifices and in times of difficulty the family of origin acts as a social shock absorber.
«Not enough has been done for years now to put work at the centre of the country’s economic agenda – stated Susanna Camusso, PD senator–. In the new budget law there are few answers to the needs of working mothers. It is necessary to incentivise flexibility bargaining policies to counter the increasingly widespread phenomenon of voluntary resignations by women. Building a favourable working environment does not require extraordinary resources but precise and targeted choices».
The decision not to “have a family” also affects the ability to save and invest, in terms of insurance and finance. For this very reason, financial education is an important piece in the framework of family policies, bringing an added value of freedom and self-determination that is well received, especially by women. A further element to define a future perspective of intervention is certainly the issue of corporate welfare, a fundamental lever to improve the wellbeing of male and female workers and support family policies. This was discussed by Paola Ansuini, director of customer protection communication and financial education at the Bank of Italy, and Claudia Ghinfanti, head of marketing & communication at Alleanza Assicurazioni – Gruppo Generali.
«Corporate welfare has a fundamental role to play – reiterated Laura Bernini, Head of Welfare at Confcommercio’s Central Labour Policies Department – public and private must walk together, complementing each other, even if there is still a problem of awareness of the value of welfare and its potential. It is important to refine a managerial culture that pays more attention to the value of corporate welfare and well-being in the workplace».
Corporate welfare is a fundamental lever to complement public policies, thanks to the tools available: from tax relief to the new rules for fringe benefits, passing through a better work/life balance. Other speakers included Lorenza Cipollina head of communication & government affairs Italy Mondelez International, Antonio Fazzari general manager Fater, Alberto Rivolta ceo Prénatal & country manager PRG Retail Group, Fabrizio Ruggiero CEO Edenred, Paola Trotta head of corporate communications and public affairs Valore D.