The new lockdown approved today will not only affect bars, pizzerias and restaurants, but also 18.200 ice cream parlors and pastry shops belonging to the craft sector which in Italy employ over 50 employees. 

The concern for the economic and employment stability of these activities is very high, according to the CGIA. Report the coordinator of the CGIA Studies Office, Paolo Zabeo:

“People's health must always be put first, but the future of many artisan ice cream and pastry shops is also at risk. With the obligation of early closure we run the danger that within a few months many family-run businesses will be destined to close permanently. To avoid all this, it is necessary for the Government to intervene promptly, providing immediate non-repayable contributions, tax and social security moratorium, at least until the end of the year, and the establishment of a preferential path for the presentation of the application and the payment of the redundancy payment for all. employees of this sector ". 

Finally, the CGIA recalls that at the beginning of 2021 all production sectors, including trade and crafts, in addition to the negative economic effects generated by the pandemic will also be subjected to the new European rules on credit. A measure that will certainly penalize SMEs in particular. Secretary Renato Mason says:

“To avoid the negative effects of non-performing loans on banks' balance sheets, Brussels has imposed on them the cancellation of unsecured risk loans in 3 years and in 7-9 years for those with collateral. It is clear that the application of this measure, in essence, will induce many credit institutions to adopt an attitude of extreme prudence in disbursing loans, to avoid having to incur losses in a few years. In short, for many SMEs a new credit crunch is now just around the corner ".

CGIA: "New lockdown affects 18 thousand ice cream parlors and artisan pastry shops"

| Economics, EVIDENCE 1 |