ROMA (ITALPRESS) – The failure to pay the salaries of October to Italian employees of some US bases in Italy, connected with the current “shutdown” of the federal government, is the subject of some actions undertaken by the Farnesina. At the request of Minister Antonio Tajani in Rome and Washington, discussions were started with the American embassy and the State Department, to emphasize the need to immediately find a temporary solution, regardless of the end of shutdown. The failure of wages is due to the fact that since 1 October the USA has been in “shutdown”. It is at the time of the longest shutdown in American history. Approximately 750,000 federal employees were put on temporary unpaid leave (“furlough”). Who is called to guarantee the basic services is required to do so without receiving the relative pay, which will be reintegrated only when the Congress will be able to approve the aforementioned refinancing. With a National “Security Presidential Memorandum” of October 15, President Trump has prepared the use of the funds of the Department of Defense (of War), already allocated in the past by Congress and still available, to ensure the regular pay of the “active duty military personnel” and the reservists.
Civilians employed in the US military bases abroad would not be included among those entitled to receive regular pay. The concrete decisions, by chance, are entrusted to the evaluations of the Armed Force to which each base is affirmed. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs requested the U.S. Embassy in Rome, which confirmed that US Army and US Air Force are preparing with the Pentagon the opportunity to resort to own funds to pay Italian employees. In Italy there are about 2000, largely roomed in Aviano (USAF) and Vicenza (US Army), Italian employees of U.S. bases who did not receive the salary in October, although their work performance is governed by Italian law. Employees of bases controlled by the US Navy, like Naples, have regularly received the pay envelope, thanks to a different law of that Armed Force in the management of their budget chapters.
– photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS).
