Italy needs more than just Fiat

The more than 5,000 employees at Italian carmaker Fiat's parent plant in Turin-Mirafiori have approved a contentious wage agreement by a slim majority. It foresees more flexible contracts as well as longer working hours and promises in return that billions of euros will be invested in the loss-making Italian Fiat plants. The employees vote is a sign of far-reaching change in relations between employees, employers and the state, the liberal daily La Stampa writes: "The close bonds which once moved the state to protect its big companies and had considerable impact on their decisions have dissolved. … But Italy cannot remain impassive regarding the activities of its largest company, even if globalisation now means the state is no longer in a position to determine company policy. After the mistakes that weakened Italy's position in areas like electronics, the chemicals industry and pharmaceuticals the state must develop a new economic strategy that relies not only on the car industry and that will boost productivity. Without such a rise in productivity policy Italy will become less and less competitive internationally, with or without Fiat."

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