Hunger for work or the pursuit of stability through public employment? This is the question being asked after the explosion of applications for the provincial administration's competition for three permanent positions as maintenance technician-gardener , the traditional road mender. 370 applications were received , a number that starkly reflects the employment situation in the area, as if three small towns had decided en masse to participate.

The competition, envisaged in the Province of Oristano's three-year personnel needs plan for 2025-2027, required a technical correction in recent days. One candidate had been included twice in the list of eligible candidates, and another, although in good standing, was not included. With the resolution of December 30, 2025, Director Mariano Meloni approved the corrected list, which was subsequently published on the InPA portal and in the Transparent Administration section.

CISL provincial secretary Alessandro Perdisci isn't surprised by the high number of applicants. "It was predictable that this would happen," he says, "in a province like ours, hungry for work and where every job opportunity can be seen as significant." The union representative emphasizes that 50% of workers in the Oristano area have fixed-term contracts, and "the possibility of transforming this into a permanent position is an opportunity for many people, not only for those who don't have a job but also for those who have temporary jobs."

This view is shared by Sandro Fronteddu, head of the CGIL Public Service : "Such high numbers are the result," he emphasizes, "of the need for labor, especially in the lower-skilled categories , where many people are trying to improve their position. This phenomenon, however," Fronteddu observes, "occurs less frequently in the higher-skilled categories, where local authorities have more difficulty finding staff."

Behind the numbers, however, there are also stories. One participant, who prefers to remain anonymous, explains his motivations: "I'm 42 years old, and I've worked a thousand precarious jobs. Here, people don't seek a permanent position for convenience, but to survive. A stable contract today is worth more than any promise. And besides, road mender's work is real, useful, and concrete. It's not a stopgap job, but rather a source of dignity."

The role of road mender, in fact, has a long tradition in the region. Until the provinces were operational bodies rather than empty entities, the road network was entrusted to hundreds of road menders. They were responsible for maintenance, safety, road cleaning, and immediate response in the event of landslides, floods, or accidents. This model survives only partially today, with skeleton staff, as these services have been outsourced.

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