Recently, the magazine *Transporte 3* highlighted a labour issue which, far from being confined to the road transport sector or the transport of liquid foodstuffs, is a cross-cutting problem in today’s labour market. This issue is work absenteeism.

The magazine reports that the employers’ organisation UNO Logística has detected all-time highs in absenteeism during 2025, with a rate of around 7.7 per cent – which translates to just over one and a half million people failing to turn up for work each day.

It is, in fact, a widespread problem affecting the national economy, resulting in very significant losses that hit small and medium-sized enterprises hardest, as they lack the financial and operational capacity to withstand such setbacks. Furthermore, the logistics sector is particularly hard hit due to the operational intensity of its activities.

At Rios Sangiao, we are no strangers to this issue and we strive to minimise it as much as possible within our means, working alongside our talent and transport departments. We endeavour to optimise the conditions in which our drivers carry out their work, using state-of-the-art vehicles that provide comfort and safety on the road and help to minimise ergonomic discomfort and the health risks that may arise from long hours behind the wheel. Furthermore, we are absolutely scrupulous about the rest periods stipulated by law, and we go beyond these as far as our operations allow.

The physical and mental wellbeing of our staff plays a decisive role in reducing the absenteeism that is prevalent in our sector and in other sectors.

We firmly believe that Rios Sangiao’s commitment to its staff must be mutual, and that we must function as a team in which each person strives to achieve the highest standard in their work, whilst the company recognises the value of each individual and looks after their wellbeing at work through talent retention policies that prevent staff turnover – which we mentioned recently in relation to holidays – and absenteeism due to sick leave caused by physical or mental health issues.

Ultimately, all of this results in a committed, stable and reliable service in which food liquid deliveries are made on time because both staff and machinery are looked after to the highest standard so that they are always available.

On 5 July, our town hosted the 5th Camiño Inglés Half Marathon, which includes a 10 km race for those who prefer a less demanding route than the 21-kilometre course.

Rios Sangiao, alongside other brands, has been sponsoring this sporting event for several editions now, in line with our policy of cooperation and social action within our local community.

With a successful turnout of over 300 registered participants, the race has established itself as a regular fixture on our community’s athletics calendar.

What makes this sporting event unique is that the route follows the Camino de Santiago in its entirety along the English Way, making it an event that combines sport, nature, heritage and the promotion of the area’s culture, with visibility enhanced by the high turnout and the sporting calibre of the participants.

In the women’s half-marathon category, Beatriz F.G. clocked a time of 1 hour 30 minutes and 34 seconds, whilst in the men’s category, Yago G. M. recorded a time of 1 hour 13 minutes and 37 seconds.

Ainoa G. I. took 39 minutes and 21 seconds to complete the 10 kilometres, whilst Fernando V. A. finished in 35 minutes and 24 seconds.

Several media outlets reported on the event, and officials such as Antonio Leira, head of the Sports Department at the Provincial Council of A Coruña; Álex Doval, mayor of Oroso; Óscar Rodríguez, Councillor for Safety and the Environment; Xabier Castro, a member of the board of the Tambre Athletics Club; and Antonio Riveira, head of security for the race and president of CD Móvete no Camiño.

Another successful event in terms of turnout and participation, of which we feel a part, and which helps to raise the profile and put our town on the map – a town of which we are deeply proud, as it was here that our food liquids transport company was founded over 40 years ago.