Italy caregiver bill faces criticism over lack of support

The Italian government's proposed bill regarding the recognition of family caregivers is facing intense criticism from both social advocates and political figures. The legislation, scheduled to reach the Chamber of Deputies on October 2, aims to formalize the role of caregivers within the public assistance framework.

Critics argue the bill fails to provide professional recognition or essential social security protections, such as pension contributions or early retirement options. Concerns have been raised that the law effectively integrates unpaid labor into the state's structural assistance organization without providing the necessary financial resources or replacement services.

Furthermore, the proposed increase of the ISEE income threshold from 15,000 to 25,000 euros has been labeled insufficient. Opponents suggest that for those at the higher end of this bracket, the financial support would amount to approximately 40 euros per month, which is viewed as inadequate given that caregivers provide an estimated annual saving of over 7 billion euros to the national system.