In Italy, one in four people works illegally. There are approximately 1,200 illegal workers on the island. These are the figures from Confartigianato Sardegna on the phenomenon of illegal work among beauticians and hairdressers , which, thanks to holiday closures, is swelling like an illegal bubble made up of home-based services, word of mouth, and uncontrolled online platforms.
"This is an attack on citizens' health, the legal economy, and the dignity of artisanal work," says Giacomo Meloni, president of the association. "What is happening before our eyes is deeply worrying for all those who pay taxes and respect the law."
The analysis in Sardinia shows how "well-being" is highly exposed, to varying degrees, to professional illegality that is taking on the shape of an emergency. There are at least 1,200 undocumented workers, operating entirely illegally or borderline in terms of compliance, which is damaging regular businesses. Therefore, it is estimated that for every three regular artisan businesses, there is at least one "ghost" business, with a serious impact on citizens' health and the economy.
The wellness sector in Sardinia boasts approximately 4,046 hairdressing and beauty treatment businesses, offering hairstyling, manicures, pedicures, and beauty treatments. Of these, 83.8% (3,392 businesses) are artisan businesses, employing approximately 8,000 people.
As for spending, on average, families on the island spend 29.5 euros per month, equivalent to 355 million euros per year, on hairdressing services and beauty treatments.
However, all of this is at serious risk due to the unfair competition of hundreds and hundreds of illegal operators who, disregarding any kind of law and above all feeling unpunishable , carry out their activities daily in customers' homes or in unsuitable premises.
But there's more: starting September 1, 2025, the EU Regulation has introduced a ban on the use of certain substances present in products used in beauty treatments. "Therefore," Meloni adds, "both the placing on the market and the making available of non-compliant cosmetic products are prohibited. Products already present in salons must be disposed of or recalled in agreement with the suppliers."
(Unioneonline)