Abstract

The Italian Constitution had been conceived and written in view of an industrial society, in which labour and workers were the pivotal elements of democracy and sociality. The author analyses the phenomenon of "working poor" as an effect of post-industrial economy and neo-liberal policies and examines which systemic scheme could support income guarantee in the changed social frame of reference. Innovative instruments are therefore foreseen, implying also a modification of art. 38 of the Constitution, but safeguarding the role of labour as the background of citizenship.