Italian civil service volunteers in cultural sector demand jobs

A group of 662 young volunteers serving in Italy's National Civil Service at 135 Ministry of Cultural Heritage offices has written to the ministers of the Lega-Five Star government, demanding professional opportunities after their service ends in September 2018. The volunteers, aged 18-28, receive a monthly allowance of €433.80 and have been working since September 2017 in museums, libraries, archives, and archaeological sites. They propose continued collaboration starting September 13, 2018, citing high youth unemployment and impending retirements in public administration, especially at MiBACT. The appeal highlights the risk of incomplete projects if their expertise is not reused. Meanwhile, the broader future of the Civil Service is uncertain: the CNESC reported 41,000 current volunteers and expects a new call for 50,000+ positions in 2019, funded by nearly €300 million. However, the 2019 budget only allocates €150 million, far short of the €400 million needed for 100,000 positions. Debate continues over whether to reintroduce mandatory military or civil service, as proposed by Matteo Salvini, which would require billions in funding.