In Verona 10,099 companies, which represent 43.4% of craftsmanship scaliger, they have to do every day we deal with unfair competition caused by illegal construction and from unfair commercial practices: hairdressing, construction, maintenance, services and home repairs are among the professions most affected by underground operators who escape regulations, costs and responsibilities. To give an idea, among the activities that are part of the service sector, which include wellness, personal care, creative activities, the irregularity rate reaches 13.1%, while in construction it is 10.3%. In Veneto the number of companies under pressure rises to 49 thousand, equal to 47% of the total.
This was revealed by the 20th Galassia report by Confartigianato Imprese which estimated it at 217.5 billion eurosequal to 10.2% of GDP, the value of the underground economy: of these, 77.2 billion comes from irregular work, which alone accounts for 3.6% of GDP. The data also shows how complex the battle is against the undeclared work phenomenon, which grew by 7.5% in just one year, and driven by an 11.3% increase in irregular work.
The most exposed sectors
The most exposed sectors in the Veronese area are hairdressers and beauticians (2,409), followed by bricklayers (2,058), vehicle maintenance workers and repairers (1,148), with particular reference to body repairers and electricians; for the systems category there are electricians (1,091) and plumbers (1,045) and then building painters (868), repairers of goods for personal use and for the home (510), taxi drivers (330), arborists and gardeners (413), photographers (175) and videographers (37), movers (15). «The perimeter», points out Devis Zenari, provincial president of Confartigianato Imprese, «takes as reference the eleven professions indicated, in the Confartigianato national campaign against illegal construction, as most exposed to unfair competition. Even if there are many other businesses that suffer damage due to undeclared work and illegal activity, such as those in the fashion sector for example.”
Harsher sanctions
«Taking into account that hairstyle and aesthetics are at the forefront“, adds Cristina Scurtu, president of Confartigianato Benessere Verona, “it should be remembered that we have recently expressed satisfaction with the presentation of the Ancorotti Bill, containing thecommitment to decisively combat the phenomenon of illegal constructionwhich continues to harm healthy businesses and threaten the safety and health of citizens. For example, there is the choice to tighten the sanctions for those who illegally practice the profession of beautician or hairdresser, a strong and necessary signal to protect companies that operate in compliance with the rules. We therefore hope that the bill will become law.”
Roberto Boschetto, president of Confartigianato Imprese Veneto, concludes: «Unfair competition is not a harmless shortcut: it is a systemic distortion that suffocates those who work honestly. Those who pay the highest price are regular businesses, but also citizens, exposed to unsafe jobs, without guarantees and without any traceability.”
