This essay analyses the events at Rosarno to identify the reasons and roots of the problems behind the revolt of the immigrant workers. The fundamental nucleus of these questions is the serious exploitation of workers and the marked social isolation in which these farm workers were living. Nevertheless, their living conditions and salaries were absolutely in line with those of immigrant farm-workers in other parts of Southern Italy. To prevent a repetition of these events, the institutions should take responsibility for the conditions of immigrant farm-workers, particularly seasonal ones.only subscribers can see the full article

The Protocol on pensions, jobs and competition of 23 July 2007 is certainly one of the most important agreements between government and social partners in recent years, for its farrangingness and for the debate it has set off in public opinion. This is partly due to the significant involvement of workers in the referendum held on the text, as well as the high percentage of approval for its solutions. In method and solutions it provides an opportunity to analyse how consultation has developed and how it stands on an essentially bipolar political scene, and to verify the state of health of Italy’s welfare system in an age of epoch-making challenges such as globalisation and the ageing of the population. The article examines the structure of the protocol in relation to the pensions system, the regulation of labour relations and the labour market, and the competitiveness of the system.only subscribers can see the full article