Jasmine Del Guercio | Nov 19, 2018
The government takes action and prepares a series of amendments for family policies which will be approved with the budget law

The government is trying to take action on family policies, which are almost absent in the text of the budget law that arrived in Parliament.

The intervention is contained in a "family package", presented by the Minister for Family Policies Lorenzo Fontana. These are government amendments and amendments presented in agreement with the League group.

1) Bonus baby

The government representative announced funding from 444 million for the baby bonus (compared to approximately 400 allocated for the 2018), with a substantial novelty: for each child following the first – born after January 1st 2019 – an increase of 20% on what was paid.

The new formulation maintains for the 2019 the two income brackets already foreseen (until 7 thousand euros and from 7 a 25 thousand euros) for family allowances.

Currently the bonus is 80 euros per month (960 euros per year) for the nuclei of the second band (and 7 a 25 thousand euros), e 160 euros per month (1920 euros per year) for those in the first group (until 7 thousand euros). It lasted 12 months and must be renewed from year to year in the Budget Law.

2) Fathers, family crises, disabled children

Three other important measures are foreseen in the amendments: allocations of 40 million euros to refinance the leave of 4 days for fathers (already existing but also expiring); the establishment of the "Support fund for family crisesi” con 10 million euros per year; doubling (and 400 a 800 euro) from the tax deductions for i children with disabilities.

3) The maternity period

In the proposal presented by Minister Fontana, mothers will also be able to choose whether to access a three-month period of paid maternity leave 60%; as an alternative to six months of paid maternity leave 30%.

In the end, the aim is to strengthen the Family policy fund with 300 million euros for the three-year period 2019/2021 (e 100 million for each subsequent year) strengthening the promotion of corporate welfare.

4) Baby sitting

The minister also announces an amendment for the refinancing of the so-called voucher baby sitting, per 50 million euros, aimed at both self-employed workers and employed women: it is a contribution to pay for nursery school for your child (Future, 19 November).

5) Family card and discounts

In the family package, Fontana also relaunches the initiative of the "Family card”, which allows access to discounts on the purchase of goods or services or to tariff reductions. But to be able to take advantage of it, must include at least one person in the family unit 3 minor children. The application to obtain the Card must be submitted to your municipality.

SOURCE: https://it.aleteia.org/2018/11/19/legge-bilancio-2019-bonus-bene-gravidanze-asili-nido/