What are the main critical issues detected in Locarno?

The main critical issues concern the increase in new applications for social assistance registered in 2025, combined with the fact that exits from the system are lower than entries. Of particular concern is the proportion of beneficiaries under the age of 25 and the fact that more than a third of the people assisted have been dependent on the system for more than five years, highlighting a difficulty in achieving economic autonomy.

What solutions have been proposed by city councillors?

The councillors proposed to strengthen the collaboration between the Social Office and the Economic Promotion Office, taking inspiration from models such as that of the Municipality of Tresa. Contacts were also requested with companies and training bodies, the introduction of recruitment incentives, systems for monitoring employment outcomes and a shared strategy with the Canton to prevent long-term dependencies.

Who submitted the question to the Town Hall?

The question was presented by a cross-cutting group of municipal councillors. Among the first signatories are Filippo Beltrametti (Independent), Kevin Pidò (Ticino League), Saso Lazarov (Centre), Marko Antunovic (Greens) and Frano Dragun (UDC), along with numerous other local political representatives.

Locarno: young people and assistance, questioning at the Town Hall (cross-border guide)

Di Redazione Frontaliere Ticino · Published on 24 July 2026

Locarno town hall, center of the social assistance debate.

Increase in requests for assistance among young people in Locarno: a cross-cutting group of councillors calls for new strategies for job reintegration.

Context

In a nutshell

Growth in new applications for social assistance in 2025.
Alarm for the increase in underage and under 25 beneficiaries.
Over a third of beneficiaries have been receiving aid for more than five years.
Request for new strategies to promote economic independence.

Key facts

What: Question to the Municipality of Locarno on the subject of social assistance
When: July 24, 2026
Where: Locarno
Who: Transversal group of municipal councillors
Status: Request for clarification on reintegration and tools

The political debate in Locarno has rekindled around the management of social care, with a particular focus on younger age groups. On July 24, 2026, a cross-cutting group of city councillors submitted an official question to City Hall to address the increasing complexity of the support system. The central problem lies in the increase in new applications received in 2025 compared to previous years, a fact that worries local administrators also due to the difficulty in favouring exits from the system, which are lower than the registered entries.

# Beneficiary Profile

The analysis of the signatories shows that a significant proportion of the beneficiaries are currently minors and young people under the age of 25. This figure is accompanied by a further alarming statistic: more than a third of beneficiaries have been receiving financial aid for more than five years.

Operational details

The practical analysis of the measures proposed by the signatories focuses on the need for a paradigm shift in the approach to social support. For young people looking to enter the Ticino labour market, the challenge is not only economic, but also training and networking. The question explicitly proposes to strengthen the collaboration between the Social Office and the Economic Promotion Office, creating a stronger bridge between the need for assistance and the opportunities offered by the local business fabric. We look, in particular, at successful models already experienced in other contexts, such as the experience of the Municipality of Tresa, which has distinguished itself for a specific orientation towards the professional integration of its citizens.

Monitoring tools and incentives

A key point of the request concerns the activation of direct contacts with companies and training bodies in the area. Counsellors suggest considering possible recruitment incentives, which could act as a catalyst for the inclusion of young residents who are currently dependent on the care system. In addition, the implementation of systems for monitoring employment outcomes is proposed, aimed at measuring the effectiveness of the paths taken. This data-driven approach would make it possible to understand which interventions work and which, instead, require review. Collaboration with the Canton of Ticino is considered

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Key points

To address the situation, the Municipality is called upon to evaluate the implementation of new complementary municipal initiatives to those already in place. The procedure suggested by the councillors involves a detailed analysis of the current professional insertion tools, followed by a phase of comparison with the business realities of Locarnese. For citizens who find themselves in a situation of precariousness, the first step remains that of turning to the competent offices to understand the opportunities for training and requalification. The transparency requested in the interrogation aims to make these information accessible and to transform assistance into a springboard for an autonomous career.

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the main critical issues detected in Locarno?: The main critical issues concern the increase in new applications for social assistance registered in 2025, combined with the fact that exits from the system are lower than entries. Of particular concern is the proportion of beneficiaries under the age of 25 and the fact that more than a third of the people assisted have been dependent on the system for more than five years, highlighting a difficulty in achieving economic autonomy.
What solutions have been proposed by city councillors?: The councillors proposed to strengthen the collaboration between the Social Office and the Economic Promotion Office, taking inspiration from models such as that of the Municipality of Tresa. Contacts were also requested with companies and training bodies, the introduction of recruitment incentives, systems for monitoring employment outcomes and a shared strategy with the Canton to prevent long-term dependencies.
Who submitted the question to the Town Hall?: The question was presented by a cross-cutting group of municipal councillors. Among the first signatories are Filippo Beltrametti (Independent), Kevin Pidò (Ticino League), Saso Lazarov (Centre), Marko Antunovic (Greens) and Frano Dragun (UDC), along with numerous other local political representatives.