Citizens in Italy have a right to a job, fair wages, a basic minimum income, a decent pension and fair taxes, populist prime minister Giuseppe Conte, said on Tuesday
"It is time to say that Italians have a right to a minimum hourly wage in order that no one is exploited," Conte said in a maiden address to the Italian Senate.
"Citizens also have a right to a basic income and a new job when they lose one," he continued.
"They also have the right to a decent pension and to be able to pay fair taxes in a straightforward way," Conte added.
Conte also vowed to wage war on the hefty pensions, annuities and other privileges enjoyed by national and regional lawmakers as well as the Italian presidency, members of the constitutional court, the government and the judiciary.
"The so-called 'golden' pensions are another example of unjustified privileges which must be stopped," Conte said.
"We will cut pensions above 5,000 euros a month net which are not funded by the amount of contributions made," he stated.
"Normal pension rules will be applied to these categories," he said.
The country's new populist government involving the anti-establishment Five Star Movement and the far-right League parties was sworn in last week, ending months of uncertainty for the EU's fourth-biggest economy after an inconclusive 4 March national election.
The populists' anti-austerity agenda includes reversing previous reforms that raised the retirement age, a universal minimum citizens income and pension of 800 euros a month, and slashing income and business tax - in a direct challenge to European Union budget rules.
Conte's speech will be followed by a vote of confidence in the Senate later on Tuesday. The lower house of the Italian parliament is expected to hold its ballot on Wednesday.
Conte is expected to win both votes, despite holding only a narrow majority in the Senate.
