Federmar-Cisal has sent to the government and the presidents of the Parliament's Parliamentary Finance and Transport Committees proposal for the distribution between shipowner companies and seafarers of the tax benefits of Decree-Law no. 457 of 30 December 1997 establishing the International Register of registration of ships. "As is well known - recalled the national secretary of the union, Alessandro Pico, in the Communication of the proposal - the system of tax advantages and contributions, in particular the Tonnage Tax regime, has had the to strengthen the competitiveness of our fleet. However, it should be noted that most of the direct or indirect tax issues primarily fall on companies shipowners, leaving seafarers, although recipients of some specific exemptions, an economic recognition not always proportionate to the essential role it plays in the generation of competitiveness and profit. The attached proposal - Pico explained - intends to bridge this gap through a simple and straightforward mechanism: the introduction of the obligation for shipping companies to share a share (50% proposal) of the tax benefits (Irpef/Ires) deriving from registration in the International Register directly for the benefit of staff seafarer embarked. This principle of fair distribution not only would strengthen the objective of protecting maritime labour inherent in the in the original legislation, but would also act as a powerful lever of Improving wages for workers, supporting power purchasing and enhancing a strategic professional category for the national economy. The proposal provides that the modalities of calculation and disbursement are defined through bargaining national collective agreement, thus ensuring full adhesion and management by the social partners'.

Federmar-Cisal's proposal is formulated as follows:

In order to ensure greater social equity and a more direct and tangible economic recognition to seafarers, which plays an essential role in the competitiveness of the sector, it is proposed to introduce a rule that provides for the obligation for shipowner companies to distribute a share of the IRPEF benefits (or equivalent) resulting from the entry in the Register directly in favor of seafarers on board. SINGLE ARTICLE (Amendment to Legislative Decree 457/1997 - Allocation of tax benefits) After the article [Insert the most appropriate article, e.g. example 6-ter, or a new article] of Decree-Law 30 December 1997, no. 457, converted with amendments by Law 27 30 of February 1998, the following is inserted: "Article 6-quarter. Distribution of tax benefits" 1. Allocation Obligation: Starting from [Date of entry into force, shipowners benefiting from the Tonnage scheme Tax referred to in Article 155 of the Consolidated Law on Tax on Income (TUIR) and/or other related tax benefits registration of ships in the International Register, are required to to recognize seafarers embarked on the same ships, pursuant to the National Collective Labour Agreements of the category, a share equal to 50% of the IRPEF or IRES benefit obtained, directly or indirectly, by the application of the scheme facilitated. 2. Distribution Method: The distribution referred to in paragraph 1 must be paid through a salary element non-taxable for contribution purposes (where compatible with current legislation), and will be proportional to the period of effective embarkation and classification of the worker. The modalities calculation and disbursement must be defined through Agreements National Collectives stipulated between the Trade Unions of the and the Shipowners' Associations Comparatively more Representative. 3. Regulatory Coordination: The Revenue Agency and INPS shall issue, within ninety days of the entry into force of the this provision, the operating instructions and any changes to the calculation procedures required for the application of provisions of this article. 4. Purpose: The purpose of this provision is to translating the reduction in contributions into actual wage improvement for the worker, with a view to the fair redistribution of burdens and benefits provided by the International Register The National Secretary Alessandro Pico