Social pact implemented in Piedmont

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In January 1999, an agreement to foster development and employment was signed by the regional authorities, local bodies and social partners in Piedmont, northern Italy. The deal was the first regional initiative to implement December 1998's national "social pact for development and employment".

On 8 January 1999, the regional authorities, local bodies and social partners signed an agreement to foster development and employment in Piedmont, northern Italy. This was the first decentralised initiative to implement the national-level "social pact for development and employment" signed on 22 December 1998 (IT9901335F). Piedmont, which includes Turin, has a long-standing industrial tradition, but is marked by serious imbalances and weaknesses. The social partners and the area's institutions have thus decided to try to improve the economic situation with far-reaching strategic programmes aimed at integrating and developing the various initiatives already in progress in the region, based on collaboration and "concertation". The agreement covers four main policy areas:

• development of production activities. Measures include negotiated programmes, industrial policies, urban upgrading, streamlining of the system of incentives for companies, introduction of new technologies and enhancement of agricultural development services;

• labour market and vocational training policies. These have a central role, with the agreement providing for an enhanced use of European resources, intervention at all stages of training (initial, continuing and advanced), the accreditation of training organisations, the certification and recognition of "training credits", the development of local training pacts, the coordination of the parties involved, a workplace information system and training and counseling activities for workers;

• environmental and infrastructure policies. These are considered a potential source of development for the region, and the pact foresees major rail and road links, the launch of an underground railway in Turin and the development of logistic structures; and

• modernisation and streamlining of the public administration. A "one-stop shop" will be created to streamline bureaucratic procedures for companies, with a computerised link will between the central and local administrations. There will also be a major vocational training initiative for civil servants, which is considered a key element in the modernisation of the administration.

The agreement becomes operative immediately, and the parties committed themselves to organising by late February consultation groups on a number of issues. In early March, the parties were due to draw up a specific Piedmont regional pact for employment and development.

The Piedmont agreement indicates that allowing regional and local bodies to participate in the December 1998 national pact may guarantee a faster and more efficient local implementation of the commitments made.

All parties appear satisfied with the outcomes of the agreement and ready to cooperate in its implementation. The Minister of Labour, Antonio Bassolino, described the initiative as "not a negotiation [but] a concertation forum for local bodies and social partners where all parties make their own contribution". Mario Scotti, secretary general of the Cisl trade union confederation, underlined that "today we understood that the partners are willing to collaborate and that all the actors are present and available to do that. Concertation on the ground is the new path we have to follow." Enzo Ghigo, president of the Piedmont region, said that "the method used represents the real novelty".