"Politics must be clear: does it intend to make the country win, by helping the Draghi government to put in place structural measures to encourage the employment of young people, or is it instead interested in mere electoral dividends, continuing on the road of bonuses and temporary 'parking' measures, such as the Citizenship Income, which is fundamental to fight poverty, but which for young people is proving to be a disincentive to work and to enhance their talent?"With this question Giovanni Brugnoli, Confindustria Vice President for Human Capital, opened his interview with Sole24Ore on the occasion of the Stati Generali dell'Orientamento. And according to Brugnoli, the answer to this question must be given for at least three reasons: 'we are the second manufacturing power in Europe, the seventh economy in the world, but families and students often do not even know this, and do not know the job and training opportunities that our companies are able to offer young talents. Second, because we can no longer find more than 40% of the resources that companies need. And thirdly, because we need to rebuild an alliance between us entrepreneurs, territories and the world of education, since only where there is this link, from school-to-work courses to industrial doctorates, is there quality employment and competitive companies'.

The Vice President for Human Capital reiterated the need to field real measures and not ideological flags: 'In the first two and a half years, the Citizenship Income has already cost over 20 billion, and with the last manoeuvre it was refinanced for another 8 billion. The measure is sacrosanct in terms of inclusion and combating poverty. But to hear companies that cannot find staff because there is a disincentive given by subsidies is intolerable'. On quota 100, he noted, 'we were told that for every exit there would be three new hires, instead we stopped at 0.4'.

Brugnoli then returned to the Confindustria proposals: 'We have proposed a structural cut in the wedge of 16 billion. It means giving workers with 35,000 in income an extra EUR 1,223, i.e. an additional month's pay in their envelope for their entire working life. No one has answered us yet. And speaking of young people, I hear talk of interventions in the pipeline on apprenticeships and curricular traineeships, which introduce bureaucratic constraints and new costs. If that is the case, I say it just as clearly: we will kill these instruments, distancing training and work forever, when instead we need to strengthen this link'.

Vice President Brugnoli then went on to talk about the path that led to the States General of Orientation being held today in Rome: 'in 2019 in Turin we held the States General of Education, showing how our main competitor countries, the United States, China, and India, have long had programmes in place for schools up to 2040-2050. Today, with the General States of Orientation, we want to show the beauty of Italy, which comes from its industry and the ability of our talents, with the right character, to create that innovation that makes us recognisable throughout the world. Alongside 'made in Italy', as a symbol of beauty, well made, that remains in the heart; I propose adding 'Educated in Italy' because every pathway, from high school to technical institute, to Its, if done well, is important to us. Certainly, Stem skills are, and will be in the coming years, the most in demand by Italian industry. But those who think that businesses are disconnected from the world of humanitas, from art to literature, are wrong. It is called technological humanism, and it is present in all our excellences'.

Finally, on what is expected of the school Brugnoli said: 'we must make it as modern and attractive as business. So, concretely speaking: the reforms of the Pnrr Scuola must be approved immediately; teaching must change, thanks to new technologies, laboratories and 4.0 libraries. Then we need services as well as lessons'.