I’m publishing a letter that I’ve received from Giovanna Portosi, an Italian citizen who has been unemployed for some months. Giovanna’s situation deserves special attention as she is having particular difficulties in getting back into the labour market.
Italia dei Valori has placed in the top position, its government proposal relating to the topic of work, by improving law number 30, guaranteeing an income and retraining during periods of unemployment and making available tax breaks for precarious workers.

”Good day Dr. Di Pietro,

I don’t know whether this letter will be filtered out or whether you personally will read it. However, I hope it will be read and that it is a cause for reflection.
On Saturday 22 march, I turned 52. No, it’s not actually my age that sends shivers down my spine, but other things that are more serious. Since September 2007, I haven’t been getting a salary. On 20 December 2007, the firm where I worked, closed its doors and on 20 February it was declared bankrupt.
I signed up to the local employment office but they gave me to understand that it was best if I looked for work on my own; I spend whole days looking at job adverts but my greatest agony is to read “maximum age: 45”. If it goes well, those over 50 are prevented from getting from training for the unemployed.
Rarely, after I’ve sent off my CV, someone deigns to reply. Not to mention then the temporary-work agencies that are sprouting up like mushrooms. They attract you with repetitive adverts on various sites, I’ve wondered, following various adverts that have been repeated for months. Whether it’s a mirror for sky larks, the demand is created spontaneously, but have they got a deal for every candidate that “hits” their database? Like the animal sanctuary that get a sum for every animal they look after?
Closed doors for those over 50 for the world of work. Too young for the pension law. No. It’s not that I want to remain idle. I’m a really active women and being forced to stay unemployed is really annoying for me. I’m just asking to be able to work. But for those of us who are “new-old” there’s no job and no one protecting us.
I’m no longer young and beautiful. Thus I can’t expect to find a rich man who can keep me and to be honest I would feel like a worm if I were to be so submissive.
Another thing I want to tell you. In all my 30 years of work, I’ve never asked INPS for anything. The employment office meanwhile suggested I ask there for unemployment benefit. But there again, there’s no one to guide you or to tell you how to prepare a request. With phlegm they write to tell you that a document is missing. You take it along and days pass. They write back to tell you that another sheet of paper is missing. OK this happened 4 times and I was going up and down and we’ve got nearly to the end of March without knowing whether or not they will give me an allowance.
It’s not fair! Anyway they have their salary and they don’t understand the difficulties of those who as well as having lost their job and the monthly salary who knows if they will manage to get this even having gone through the Trades Unions. It’s offensive for those like me who are undergoing this difficulty.
This bureaucratic discomfort, the precarious workers, the lack of protection of workers, these should be the levers of good policies. I’m shouting out about my suffering because I don’t know what to do for these 8 years before I can get a pension. I just need to get a job so as not to feel like a parasite on society. I’m not asking for the moon nor the sun, just a mere job. I’ve got 30 years experience in administration. But my experience is not taken into consideration.

Why have I written to you? Simply because I have been following your activity for years and I hold you in high esteem and I believe in your words and in your campaigns.
I am taking the opportunity to offer you good wishes for your activity.

Giovanna Portosi."