May 1st. Mattarella "deaths at work are an unacceptable toll"

A “wound that shows no signs of healing”, a “unacceptable tribute”. The President of the Republic launches from the establishment Piaggio of Pontedera his call to ensure greater safety in the workplacewhere too many people are still losing their lives. “Safety at work remains a commitment that does not allow for waivers or distinctions”, underlines the Head of State on the day before the First of May.

A choice, that of the factory in the province of Pisa, which does not appear random

Piaggio, after the conversion from a war industry to a civilian industry, this year turns eighty (production began on 23 April 1946), as many as those of the Constitution. A trait d’union that is repeated in Mattarella’s latest commitments who, just two days ago, received a delegation from the Premio Strega at the Quirinale, another ’80-year-old’ who contributed, this time through literature and fiction, to re-building Italy after the Second World War. And the Constitution is always the inspiration behind the Head of State’s speech: “May Day is Workers’ Day all over the world. It is a Republic Day, which is based on work”.

Therefore, “that of Article 1 of the Constitution was a courageous and far-sighted choice, which defined, with masterly brevity, a very dense set of values, in which all the forces and cultures of liberated Italy were recognised”, underlines Mattarella: “It is the message of the Constituents who wanted the Republic, whose eightieth birthday we are about to celebrate, to be ‘founded on work’ precisely to give democracy, freedom, equality, finally conquered, a stronger and more challenging content to underline that the Republic would have been a time of opportunities”.

New challenges

The present time, however, presents the world of work with new challenges, starting from the crisis resulting from ongoing conflicts, passing through the demographic one, up to theArtificial intelligence, an unknown for future generations. On the first challenge, for the President of the Republic the path to follow is one that leads to greater European integration. It is necessary, he explains, “to eliminate the barriers that still prevent a complete union of our internal markets. It is time for vision, not for short-term measures, to proceed with courage” in favor of full “European integration” in the economic field.

Of course, he observes, “the fragilities of the international economy weigh on our companies. Conflicts and wars weigh heavily. In terms of productivity and innovation capacity, we have a competitive deficit in Europe”, to fill which it is necessary to “orient investments towards the most strategic sectors and with the greatest growth potential”. In short, warns Mattarella, “it is time for vision. Not for short-term measures. It is time to proceed, with courage, on the path of European integration. In the meantime we are called to do our part”.

Demography and migrants

To address the second challenge, the demographic one, Mattarella invites us to consider the issue of migrants: “The production system calls for manpower: there is something to reflect on. The issue of migration is relevant throughout Europe. Demographic impoverishment on the one hand, the growth of unanswered job demands on the other, place our societies faced with the need to deal with these problems using rationality and wisdom, soliciting cooperation with the countries of origin. The Mattei Plan, launched and developed by government”, observes the Head of State.

Artificial Intelligence

Finally, the challenge to work represented by AI. Already on other occasions, the President has invited us to look at Artificial Intelligence by putting the human dimension at the centre. Today he reiterates the concept by calling on Carlo Cattaneo for help who, “in the heart of the industrial revolution of that time, in 1845, in his ‘Industry and morals’ stated that the revelations of science are being connected in many ways to the labors of the workshop, elevating them to high dignity. And it was the polytechnic culture that united humanism and science, giving life to what was defined as ‘machine civilisation’, with the person at the center of these processes. Today it is a new frontier with which we must measure ourselves in the reaffirmation of the values that inspire our community”.

Before leaving, President Mattarella sends a message of hope, aimed above all at young people: “A special greeting to the young people who will meet in Rome, as is now customary, at the concert in Piazza San Giovanni. Happy Labor Day also to those who are looking for work, to those who defend it, to those who try to overcome the barriers of poor and precarious work. Happy First May to everyone”.