Equality in the italian labour market

If I had to chose between freedom and equality I'd always pick the first one, with only one exception.

Now that i'm in the exciting business of job seeking I'm experiencing the strenuous competition that exist among new graduates to get a dignified job.
I do belive free market is king and ultimately everybody will get what he or she deserves. If you're brilliant, you'll get the job you want and you'll be paid accordingly.
If you're not that smart, maybe you should lower your expectations.

Unfortunately, this is not how it works in Italy.

Let me step back for a second.
Looks like in this country we can never have an equilibrium.
During fascism all the power was in the hands of one person while the masses were basically powerless.
Then in the post war period until about 10 years ago the masses were king. Trade unions could literally shape national and corporate policy at their will and so they did.
During that time just everybody was irresponsibly hired with a lifelong contract that doesnt' allow lay-off.

Now, since 2003, we finally have a real free labour market where employers can hire and fire very easily BUT the new rules don't apply to all workers.

From the post-war period (often referred to as "First Republic") we've inherited a huge class of workers who now have 15 to 30 years experience but fairly low instruction and most important, absolutely no willingness to improve because they can't be sacked.

While the power is swinging back to the elites, the new masses of young (graduate) workers are literaly powerless. Not represented by the Parliament (which is almost exclusively formed by over 50s) but neither by the trade unions which only represent those who already have one of the old lifelong contracts.

Now that the economic downturn is grinding, firms are lowering costs by sacking those who can be sacked: young employees hired after 2003.
Even if it sounds like sacking the corporate future.

People should be free. Rules should be equal to everybody.