Italy’s Prime Minister says financial benefits will be taken away from those who refuse to work

Italy’s new prime minister Giorgia Meloni has promised to get tough on citizens who are taking advantage of the country’s poverty relief scheme.  

Meloni believes that the scheme is being used by people as a lifestyle choice as opposed to getting a job and she also went onto say that she believes the mafia are abusing it too.

The “Citizens Wage” was introduced by The Five Star Movement who led the country between 2018-2021. Over 3.5 million Italians receive the €780 ($812) a month payment.

Meloni announced the changes on Tuesday when she delivered her first budget, and these changes include removing eligible workers from the program after eight months or after they refuse a job offer.

“We’re keeping our pledges with respect to the citizens’ wage, which is a bad measure,” Meloni said. “The State cannot put those who can and those who cannot work on the same level.”

Since the introduction of the scheme, there have been several cases of the payment being claimed by people who are not eligible.

In August, Sicily police arrested over 100 people, including several with convictions for mafia-associated crimes, for fraudulently claiming the citizens’ income in the region of €1.5 million ($1.56 million).

Meloni said her priority was to remove funding from welfare and divert it to remedying Italy’s low birth rate along with rising living costs.