In Sicily one person out of three is poor, or almost poor. This is why the Cisl trade union asked for a meeting on credit, development and poverty. The announcement was given by secretary Maurizio Bernava and member Daniela De Luca. Cisl noted that “in Sicily poor people are 1,661,134 and they represent 33% of the regional population”. This data is higher than the national average (13.6%) and also than the other southern regions (26.7%). Moreover Cisl underlined that the employment rate in Sicily is particularly low (43%) and female unemployment is particularly high (29.2%). “This is why we need to commit ourselves in dealing with this situation, even giving credit to poorer people”.

Translated by Chiara Nunnari from John Milton Institute