ROME "A pioneering contract". The result of a "continuous" and "profitable" dialogue with the unions, and which implements all the innovative principles contained in the agreement of 28 June (2011) to increase productivity, as requested by the premier, Mario Monti. The presidents of Federchimica, Cesare Puccioni, and of Farmindustria, Massimo Scaccabarozzi, do not hide their satisfaction at having reached a "lightning agreement". In the sights of Farmindustria's number one there is above all the law on prescription with active ingredient which «shifts the market from branded medicines to generic medicines produced mainly abroad, without this entailing a single cent of savings for the NHS (and therefore for the state). But rather it ends up dealing a severe blow to the sector: «The first estimates speak of a contraction of about 10 thousand workers, in a sector that employs 65 thousand highly skilled workers, exports 61% of the annual production of 25 billion euros, and invests in 2.4 billion a year to the country», highlighted Scaccabarozzi, announcing that yesterday he had sent Prime Minister Mario Monti a letter of «strong concern» signed together with the trade unions (Filctem-Cgil, Femca-Cisl and Uilcem).
Of course, the chemical sector too (115,000 employees - of which the 95% is on permanent contracts - spread across 2,800 companies, around 3,400 production units) is experiencing difficult times. Especially as regards the domestic market, "which is in trouble". But exports (in 2011, growing to 25 billion euros and 51% of exporting companies, the sector with the highest share of "foreign-loving" companies) holds. Thanks to innovation and research: 47% of chemical companies are engaged in R&D, while the industry average is stuck at 21%.
The contract signed yesterday develops these issues through flexibility, while recognizing a fundamental role in training in terms of constant updating and greater preparation, which thus make "the worker more easily relocatable in different company areas. From the control room to the production of energy», exemplified Cesare Puccioni. Who was keen to recall how, according to the latest Inail data, the chemical sector is by far the sector with the least accidents and occupational diseases (in the previous survey it was in second place, behind the oil sector). Another important novelty of the agreement is the so-called "Bridge Project" which aims to encourage more youth employment (in the chemical sector the percentage of contract consolidation is 60%, before the crisis it stood at 75%), creating a real generational bridge . The senior worker, who starts leaving the company, reduces his workload and allows a junior resource to take over. The hope, now, of all the social partners, said the president of Farmindustria, Scaccabarozzi, "is that the institutions encourage this possibility with adequate resources".
On the other hand, on the labor productivity front, the two presidents of Federchimica and Farmindustria wanted to highlight, "great space" is recognized for the company contract through which, without
