“A shame and intolerable exploitation.” The comment of the general secretary of the SPI CGIL Rimini, Roberto Battaglia, is clear, as he makes no concessions by going beyond the formulas of diplomacy and shining a spotlight on the pockets of illegality that emerged following an inspection activity in a social-health residence for the elderly in the Rimini area which led to the finding of 21 “shadow” employees, and 1.6 million in unpaid contributions. . “It’s a shame that irregularities have been discovered in a structure responsible for the reception, well-being and care of the most vulnerable”, begins Battaglia, who does not want to say anything, recognizing that unfortunately this is not the first nor will it be the last a case that occurs in Rimini, as in other parts throughout the Peninsula, while everywhere “respect for the elderly person who is weaker should prevail, on the one hand, and respect for the rules and rights on the other”.
Offended dignity
There is nothing, this is the certainty of the union, that can justify an attitude that has also damaged the dignity of honest workers in a situation that necessarily also has repercussions on the quality of care. Hence the invitation that Battaglia addresses to municipalities and socio-health districts “to never lower their guard by continuing to monitor and control to avoid what takes the form of exploitation”. At the end of his reflection, applause goes to the inspection activity carried out.
Professionalism sacrificed for profit
«Once again – comments CGIL Rimini for its part – it is the elderly who have to pay the price of a system that does not always put the quality of work and legality at its centre». In this sense, it is precisely on social-health residences for the elderly that inspection efforts must be concentrated, «primarily by the relevant bodies, – it is noted – in order to avoid these situations where professionalism risks being sacrificed to the profit of ‘business”. It is not acceptable, continues the union, that in sectors where there is a lack of staff, such as social and health care, “such significant pockets of illegality still exist”. As for the controls, they must be deployed along several directives because at the same time the right rights must be guaranteed for those who are forced to work with a VAT number, despite being employed. Words of appreciation therefore also come from CGIL Rimini, just like from SPI CGIL, directed to the Labor Inspectorate Unit of the Carabinieri “for the constant activity carried out in favor of legality in the area”.
