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Parliament staff's fury as wages capped at €240k

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Parliament staff's fury as wages capped at €240k
Parliamentary staff will still have the possibility to earn more than German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photo: Filippo Monteforte/AFP

Parliamentary staff saw their salaries capped at €240,000 on Thursday, a move met with rowdy protest by a number of workers.

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The news was met with a long and sarcastic applause from a number of workers, coupled with bitter shouts of “Thanks!” and “Well done, encore!”

But Laura Boldrini, the parliament’s president, stood firm and said it was “an important and positive step” in reforming Italy’s political system.

Boldrini added she was “sorry and saddened” by protest from some members of staff, Il Sole reported.

The wage cap comes three months after the government announced the salaries of public sector managers would be cut to a maximum of €240,000.

Curbing state incomes is intended to foot the bill for an €80 tax break for low earners, announced by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi earlier this year.

Despite the move being criticized by a number of parliamentary workers, it will still be possible for them to earn more than a number of European leaders.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel earns €201,000, while British Prime Minister David Cameron’s salary falls just below €180,000.

Scandinavian leaders also earn less than the limit set for the staff: Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg’s salary comes in at under €152,000, while Fredrik Reinfeldt earns €203,000 for his role as Swedish premier.

An earlier version of this article wrote that the cap applied to MPs' salaries. This was incorrect. The cap will apply to auxiliary staff in Italy's parliament only.
 

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