Roman workers defy pension assault

Politicians have raised the retirement age, leaving "younger" retirees without pensions.

Mauro Nori, director-general of state-backed pension fund INPS, told MPs that he reckoned 130,000 people were in this dire position.

Labour Minister Elsa Fornero now claims only 65,000 people are without pay or pension, even though she said a month ago the figure was as high as 350,000.

The CGIL, CISL and UIL trade union confederations accused the government of fiddling the figures to play down the problem.

CGIL general secretary Susanna Camusso told marchers in the capital: "The government must have the courage to take a step back and not use fake numbers.

"People who have generously chosen to leave the workplace to make room for the young - today the government says we do not know what to do with you.

"We are fed up of hearing people who have worked many years and then were forced to leave their jobs because of the crisis described as 'privileged.'

"If the government does not immediately open discussions with us, it knows that we will be in the streets again. We will not let the workers down."