Experimental minimum integration income scheme introduced

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In June 1998, following tripartite discussions, the "minimum integration income" - a new form of welfare benefit aimed at combating social exclusion - was approved on an experimental basis.

The reform of Italy's social security and welfare system is a major theme in the continuing consultation and dialogue process between the social partners and the government (IT9711315F). Among the initiatives to arise from this "concertation" process are experiments with new forms of welfare benefit, conducted in limited areas of the country. Among the experimental innovations is the "minimum integration income" (reddito minimo di inserimento) scheme, which was approved on 15 June 1998. The aim of this scheme is to "combat poverty and social exclusion" - affecting poor families, large families and people with disabilities - both through an income support contribution of up to ITL 500,000 per month and through personalised assistance programmes.

The new benefit applies to people whose monthly income is below the poverty line - assessed at a basic ITL 500,000 per person and increasing according to predetermined criteria, such as the number of children or disabled people belonging to the household. The people concerned should not own any real estate, except for their main residence, whose value should not exceed an amount to be fixed by the local municipal authorities. In order to be entitled to minimum integration income, people must be unemployed and should be on the job-seekers' list, unless they are engaged in educational or rehabilitation activities, or are disabled.

This income support programme also aims to encourage recruitment: if a person who takes part in the programme is hired by a private employer, the income support contribution will be given to that employer, provided that it hires the worker for a period of time equal to, or longer than, the duration of the programme.

The social integration programmes will be personalised, taking into account the individual and familial characteristics of the person concerned. Participants will be also able to agree upon the contents of their individual programme and the commitments resulting from participation in it.

A body or company external to the public administration will be charged with assessing the effectiveness of this new scheme. The Governmental Commission on Poverty and on Marginalisation will examine all the documentation submitted by the municipalities, by the Department for Social Affairs and by the body or company charged with the assessment. According to the results, it will be decided whether or not to extend the programme to the whole of Italy.