The new Collective Economic Agreement between agents and principals in the industrial sector, effective as of 1 September 2014, contains many changes, particularly concerning variations in territory and/or products and/or customers and/or amount of commissions, for which the rules have been changed to the benefit of agents. The limit of “significant amount” changes is now equal to 15% (before it was 20%). In terms of the unilateral power to change clauses held by the principal, for the first time an option has been introduced for agents where they do not have to accept unilateral changes made by the principal even if they are of an "average amount" let alone significant. The "old" 2002 agreement will continue to be applicable until expiration for existing agency contracts which shall remain effective until 31 March 2017, as well as until 31 December 2015 for all current agency contracts on the date the new AEC becomes effective.
