While waiting for a more decisive recovery of the economy, the 2024 wage support plan envisaged by the Budget Law is in force. This was recalled in recent days by the INPS which, in an ad hoc focus, summarized the main interventions, from the wedge cut, confirmed in the version strengthened by the previous government and the Meloni executive, to the welfare package, which is growing, as monthly data from the Ministry of Labor demonstrate. In fact, as of March 15, 10,637 contracts were filed and active: 734 more in the space of just one month. 3,445,579 workers benefit from it (+400,885 in a single month), who are paid an average annual bonus of 1,490.46 euros. But let’s look at the measures in detail.
Reduction of the contribution wedge
This year too, therefore, the partial exemption from social security contributions payable by employees is in force. The measure, introduced by the 2022 budget law and modified in 2023 by the Labor decree, was recognized on an exceptional basis for the pay periods from 1 January to 31 December 2024, for public and private employee employment relationships (excluding of domestic work). The contribution exemption, of 7% for incomes up to 25 thousand euros and 6% for those up to 35 thousand euros, applies to employees in the private and public sector, with the exception of domestic workers. The cut in contributions affects an audience of around 14 million workers.
Contribution relief for working mothers
Supporting female employment through an incentive for companies: this is the objective of the “Contribution relief for working mothers of three or more children”. The measure has a duration of three years, in the period between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2026. The exemption recognizes a total contribution, within the limit of 3 thousand euros per year and is valid until the month of the youngest child’s 18th birthday . An experimental measure was then introduced, for 2024 only, dedicated to mothers with two children; it is up to the month of the youngest child’s tenth birthday and in 2024 it concerns approximately 570 thousand women in 2024, for an amount equal to 500 million euros.
In order to facilitate the application of this important innovation in the world of schools, the Ministry of Education and Merit, on the initiative of Giuseppe Valditara, has made a dedicated digital function available to staff through which working mothers will be able to submit requests in a simplified manner from 27 March until 8 April 2024. But not all ministries have been so diligent, some still today have not provided information to workers benefiting from the mothers’ bonus (who remain waiting).
The welfare package
Still on the subject of work and salary support, the Budget law, the INPS note also recalled, also introduced two new tax measures for corporate welfare. In fact, only for 2024 are the increases in the exemption threshold for Fringe Benefits and the reduction in the rate generated by productivity bonuses expected. The tax exemption threshold for Fringe Benefits, goods sold and services provided to the worker by the employer, is raised for all employees to one thousand euros, instead of 258.23. The maximum limit is set at 2 thousand euros for employees with fiscally dependent children.
#cutting #wedge #welfare #measures #increase #salaries
2024-04-01 09:22:21
