Sales agents ' expenses have increased by 30%, with all fuel being paid for by the sales agents, who are forced to travel hundreds of kilometers each week to reach customers. And the increases are bringing the industry to its knees, according to Fnaarc Confcommercio.
In recent months, according to a report by Fnaarc, fuel prices have risen from around €1.65 per liter to over €2.10, representing an increase of nearly 30% in operating expenses. This trend, as the trade association emphasizes, is not limited to Southern Sardinia but is part of a nationwide scenario that is impacting the entire sector. "The situation is truly dramatic," says Giuliano Cadoni, president of Fnaarc Confcommercio Sud Sardegna, "because diesel is entirely paid for by the sales agent. Going from €1.65 to €2.10 per liter means an increase of approximately 30% in costs, compounded by the rising cost of raw materials and market difficulties. This is a reality we are experiencing here in Southern Sardinia, but it affects all of Italy."
No help on the horizon: " There's still talk of possible interventions and price controls," Cadoni continues, "but the truth is that, today, sales agents are paying more and more. The claims are multiplying, but in reality, the costs are rising and are entirely on our shoulders. For us, fuel isn't an incidental item: it's an indispensable work tool."
Hence the SOS: "We call on politicians," Cadoni concludes, "to intervene quickly with real tools, not announcements, that can ease the burden of fuel costs and ensure sustainable working conditions for sales agents, who represent a key link in the country's economic and commercial network."
(Unioneonline)
