I would like to share some insider views about my country. And I would like to know more about yours.
I'm in Italy and, to make it at simple as possible: working and living in Italy as a person born in a working-class family…sucks. I mean, really really sucks.
SALARY AND INCOME
The average yearly income in Italy, according to our Economy Minister it's pretty much around 22.500-30.000 Euros per year (for a person with a University education).
Yes, that's the average income for a year, without including our insane taxation in the equation. Most of the time, that's the income of an ENTIRE 3 to 4 people's FAMILY.
Actually, Italy is the only country in the OCSE area where not only has the average salary hasn't grown in the past 30 years, but it instead decreased. Compared to other UE states like Germany or French, where the average salary went up by over 30% from 1990.
1/4 of the u30 working population is in the spectrum of poverty, gaining less than 900 Euros per month.
Aso. In Italy, there's no legal Minimum Salary. Not kidding. Companies can pay you as much as they want with very little restriction at all, regardless of role, conditions, and background. They can pay you the bare minimum they need to make it look like an actual job, or they can also don't pay you at all if they want (and you can bet your ass they will, especially as a newbie). We have some more standardized contract models but they are not mandatory.
Unions just never cared about that, and pretty much every government that ruled this country in the past 70 years just ignored it or, like the current government, straight-up refused to do anything about it. They're too busy reducing taxes for rich people and making laws against abortions, cannabis, civil rights, rave parties, and immigrants.
When interviewed about the topic; Renato Brunetta, the President of the National Council for Economics and Labour (an Italian constitutional organ that advises the Italian government on economic and social matters) said that: “a minimum salary would destroy decades of good relationships with companies and entrepreneurs”
EMPLOYMENT AND LIFE COST:
Our Life cost basically doubled in the past 20 years. Actually, considering the unregulated speculation of energy companies, food industries, and landlords, the monthly life cost of a single person is pretty much around 1.200/1.700 euros. While sustaining a family can easily cost around 2.437 euros per month.
The job opportunities distribution in Italy is also a big problem.
Most of the job opportunities are concentrated in the North of the country. With regions like Lombardia, Emilia-Romagna, Veneto, and Piemonte leading in the top 4 positions. Basically, out of over 20 regions, roughly 54% of the job opportunities are located in 4 regions only. Creating an extremely complex socio-economical issue, with most of the young citizens being forced to move to those regions, or to emigrate abroad If they just want to have a chance to get a job.
And that's only if they can afford it.
When it comes to cities, the one who leads the ranks is of course: Milan.
Actually, aside from being the single area with the most job opportunities, Milan strikes a record for the best average income: which ….still pretty low by the way: around 33.700 Euros per year.
But of course, Milan also touches another important record: in fact is one of the most expensive cities in Italy, and it is also the fifth most expensive city in Europe.
And of course, the renting cost is one of the heavier elements in the calculation.
Averagely, a single room in a shared house costs 630 euros (without considering the living expenses) touching 950 euros. And an entire 3 rooms house can go up to 2000 Euros per month. Pretty heavy for a country where getting more than 1000 euros per month is still not that common.
Also, Italy has one of the cruelest Tax pressure in Europe. Averagely a citizen must cut pretty much 43% from their annual income in various Taxes.
And if you own a business? Things are even worst and can go up to 60% pretty easily.
The employment rate in Italy is pretty much about 60%. Making Italy in the top 3 EU countries for unemployment after Greece and Spain.
This itself sucks. But it sucks even more if consider that the “employment” data take into consideration every form of job contract and every form of wage.
Also, in 2021 just 14% of workers in Italy got long-term job contracts, which means that the rest 86% rely on different forms of temporary and garbage contracts, making that employment rate even more optimistic than it is.
UNION:
Unionization in Italy is pretty much absent outside the industrial sector (and, is not doing great even there).
WELFARE:
Welfare is….well. Welfare isn't.
We have a form of unemployment welfare called NASPI but is just a temporary measure that's only valid for a brief period of time after the loss of a job with a regular medium/long-term contract. Basically, you'll get a small percentage of your old paycheck for a short period of time and then you can fuck yourself.
Oh, and you also have to pay taxes over it. Yes, you pay taxes over a welfare measure that you already paid with a big chunk of your previous job's paycheck every month.
Our former government introduced a basic form of welfare for families and individuals in serious poverty conditions. It was just a few hundred euros per month, but the right-wing government that came after it immediately started a media-fueled witch hunt over the people that were abusing it (despite being less than 1% according to the official government data) and ultimately got it canceled cuz fuck poor people. Getting free money from the government it's ok just if you're a huge company that can only live out of government support
RETIREMENT:
1 out of 3 retired persons gets less than 1000 euros per month (and you also pay taxes over it, despite the fact you literally paid through taxes for your entire life). And it's hard to be able to retire before the age of 73.
HEALTH:
Yes, we have “free” healthcare. But our healthcare system is always on the verge of collapse due to the constant lack of funding and staff shortage. Is not uncommon to wait 10 hours in ER, and also over a year to book a visit. But all of this can be easily avoided by paying for private hospitals. So yes it's “free”.
What about yours?