SMEs on alert: they are seeking bank loans to pay bonuses due to a lack of sales.

Just days before the mid-year bonus is due to be paid, many small and medium-sized enterprises ( SMEs ) across the country are facing serious difficulties in meeting their obligations due to a lack of sales . Therefore, business associations have begun calling for public and private banks to offer loans with flexible terms to help cover June salaries.

According to data from the NA news agency, concern is growing especially in provinces such as La Pampa, where commercial and industrial entities have warned that sales have been falling by around 10% and fixed costs remain high.

Faced with this situation, some measures have already been implemented. Banco de La Pampa launched a special credit line to help companies pay Christmas bonuses. It is aimed at local employers and seeks to offer immediate liquidity at affordable rates. The initiative was announced after a meeting between banking authorities and private sector representatives.

Responses also came from the private financial sector. Banco Galicia, for example, made loans available to cover salaries and bonuses, with benefits for SMEs and also for employees who receive their salaries at the bank.

Beyond the specific measures, the business chambers presented a portfolio of other proposals, including lines of credit to invest in technological or building improvements. "It's not enough to address the urgent needs; we also need tools to sustain ourselves over time," stated representatives of local SMEs.

The need for financing arises in a context of declining consumption that has severely affected the interior of the country. Supermarkets such as La Anónima reported a 4% drop in annual revenue and an 8.5% drop in the number of tickets issued. In other words, people are shopping less and less frequently.

Although April saw minimal signs of recovery, such as a slight 0.1% increase in consumer spending, most indicators remain in negative territory. The national government hopes this trend will begin to reverse, but SMEs, meanwhile, are asking for help to make ends meet.