Given the profound crisis in the sector due to the pandemic, the Decree No. 4 of 17 January on refreshments for travel agencies tour operators was necessary. Already at the beginning of the health crisis, the CSU had asked for the establishment of an extraordinary fund to help the citizens and businesses most in difficulty, as happened throughout Europe. We have no elements to assess the appropriateness of the allocation of 500,000 euros envisaged by the latest decree, also because we are not consulted. However, we would like to point out that the criteria for disbursement of these resources are not as rigorous and selective as was the case with support for families in economic difficulty. In fact, in order to have access to the minimum family income, very strict conditions have been imposed, including the possession of movable and real estate assets, which have many excluded in conditions of difficulty for this owner to intervene. The same amount, although revised in recent months, has remained largely insufficient with respect to the needs of individuals and families. For the provision of refreshments to companies, for the CSU it is necessary to apply stringent and selective criteria. The sector as a whole is undoubtedly in severe crisis, but not all tour operators are in the same condition, also depending on the reference market. There are also companies in the sector that have hired staff in recent weeks. Furthermore, we imagine there are very different needs, for example between established or recently opened companies, as well as between partners able to cover losses, even in the face of considerable gains in the years of prosperity, and others who do not. It is recalled that since the beginning of the pandemic, the CSU has shared the extraordinary CIG for workers and companies in this sector, and has spent its time to obtain the necessary extensions: now it has shared its further extension until March 31 of this year. . This tool has made it possible to economically support workers, and for companies to eliminate the cost of active labor, while at the same time preventing the flight of professional figures, which also entails the risk of losing substantial customer portfolios. If even after March 31st the situation does not give better prospects, the intent of CSU will be to obtain a further extension of this fundamental tool in support of workers and companies. It should be emphasized that this is a sector with a clear majority of female personnel, with high professionalism and specializations, acquired over a long period of time; a heritage that must be protected even more, given the serious difficulties in accessing work for women. Since the beginning of the pandemic, the CSU Service Federations have organized many assemblies with the workers; as soon as the conditions allow it, we intend to resume the assembly initiatives with the same workers, to continue to face together with them the delicate difficult situation and the situation of the travel agencies and tour operators sector.
Cs FULSAC-CSU Unitary Federation of Service, Hotel and Commerce Workers