Proposed changes to Italy’s 2008 legislation on safety in the workplace are due to be debated later this month. Trade Unions and opposition politicians are unhappy that dozens of amendments, including measures they claim would decrease sanctions for business owners and cap their responsibilities, have been put forward by the government. They accuse Berlusconi’s administration of putting cost considerations before worker safety. The Italian government has responded by saying that all comments will be taken into consideration. Italy, the fourth-largest economy in Europe, has one of the highest fatal accident at work rates among industrialised countries.