BUDGET: INSUFFICIENT IRPEF CUT, BOTTEGA (PROSECCO) PROVIDES ¤1,250 WELFARE TO EMPLOYEES

Discussions on the next budget law are in full swing, and the historic Veneto winery Bottega SpA has already decided to provide €1,250 in welfare benefits to each of its 250 employees (in addition to production bonuses) to support its staff, because the income tax cuts envisaged in the budget are insufficient. "This decision stems from an understanding of the needs of its staff: inflation, although within acceptable limits, has been high in recent years, and salaries have not kept pace," says Sandro Bottega, entrepreneur and head of the historic Bottega SpA company in Bibano (TV), one of Italy's leading producers of Prosecco . Bottega's initiative is part of the debate over the recently approved Budget Law, as the budget includes slight cuts to personal income tax (the bracket for those earning between €28,000 and €50,000 a year has been reduced from 35% to 33%), but these still don't seem to be enough to lift the middle class, increasingly impoverished by inflation and fiscal drug, the increase in tax pressure that occurs when inflation increases nominal incomes but not real ones. "The main problem," continues Sandro Bottega, "remains: the tax wedge erodes too much of wages, but there is a need for tax equity and a real fight against tax evasion. It's unacceptable that a freelancer earning €50,000 a year pays 15% in taxes, while an employee earning the same amount has to pay almost double. Furthermore, for new residents, who until now have never paid taxes in Italy but only in other countries, the flat-rate tax limit is €300,000. I believe this is unacceptable for those who have worked in Italy for 40 years and helped build it by paying taxes. There must be equity and a serious and vigorous fight against tax evasion. I say no to a concordat and yes to increased enforcement, finance, police, carabinieri, and the fight against food fraud," concludes Veneto wine entrepreneur Sandro Bottega.