The Regional Government has been following and paying special attention to the ASTA - Sociedade de Turismo e Animação SA case regarding the social situation of its workers and their jobs and the economic feasibility of that company.
This was assured by the President of the Government during a speech delivered before the Legislative Assembly in response to the questions raised by an MP from the opposition on the suspension of the labour agreements in ASTA.
“So far, we have managed to safeguard the payment model notwithstanding the fact that their professional activity is not being carried out because the investment is not completed,” assured Carlos César.
Stressing that workers will not be in disadvantage – insofar as they will be eligible for unemployment benefits – the President of the Regional Government announced that the Government expects that “with the furtherance of our efforts and the support of the shareholders, it is possible to reach an agreement” between workers and the company.
Carlos César conveyed his belief that this agreement will be reached in coming weeks and, after the clarification of the ownership structure of ASTA, the investments will be resumed as well as the regular labour activity.
All governmental interventions are intended to help the company to overcome a difficult phase by recovering labour satiability and resuming the investment, which the President of the Government considers to be of public interest.
In response to concerns raised by the same MP on the provision of services in the area of social support, Carlos César informed that in the Azores “the state’s social functions are not privatised,” having been undertaken directly or through a network of private social solidarity institutions (IPSS) or even by private companies.
“There is an emerging trend of private investment in areas adjoining social support functions and social services. And this is positively regarded by the Government as an asset, providing a complementary service which is primarily rendered by the State and ensuring minimum benefits in terms of quality and territoriality.”
Carlos César said that any private institution which acts under contract with the public administration must comply with the same criteria that regulate the provision of services by the IPSS.