Italy's Economic Overhaul Marked by Women Wrestling Over Labor - by Alessandra Migliaccio and Chiara Vasarri

In a country that for almost a decade was led by a man who publicly referred to his passion for female conquests, Italy is now relying on three women to help overcome the European debt crisis.

Less than four months after the resignation of Silvio Berlusconi, the former prime minister known for his "Bunga Bunga" parties, new Italian Labor Minister Elsa Fornero is mediating between Emma Marcegaglia, head of the employers' lobby, and Susanna Camusso, leader of the biggest union.

At stake are changes to labor laws to make it easier to hire and fire, a highly-charged issue in Italy, where previous attempts at an overhaul have been marred by protests, violence and even murder. The reforms aim to bring down a decade-high jobless rate of 8.9 percent and are central to Prime Minister Mario Monti efforts to convince investors he can revive Italy's economy and trim its 1.9 trillion-euro ($2.5 trillion) debt.

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