The Regional Secretary for the Sea, Science and Technology reiterated in Horta that the "main concern" of the Regional Government "has always been and will continue to be the workers and the maintenance of the cannery on Pico Island." According to him, "this is the most important guarantee that these jobs will be maintained."
 
Gui Menezes spoke at the Legislative Assembly during the debate on the labour process of COFACO plant on Pico. The government official stated that "the work carried out by the Regional Government has been towards the search for solutions," providing "all the necessary tools to implement the investment [in the new factory] as well as ensuring the workers' rights and their future.
 
Gui Menezes criticised "the fact that some parties have taken advantage of COFACO labour process." As he emphasised, "the Government of the Azores neither lowers its arms nor runs away from its responsibilities, contrary to the accusations that have been made" to the Government.
 
"This is one of those situations, unfortunately, where, as we have seen, they want to hold the Government responsible for what it has done, for what it did not do, for what it does not have to do, for what it says or for what it does not have to say," stressed the government official.
 
During the debate, Gui Menezes stated that the Regional Government has always recognised "the enormous importance" of COFACO plant in Madalena, Pico Island. In this context, the government official stressed that, "over the course of various legislative periods," the Government has been "available to support the investment of COFACO on that island under the applicable legal framework."
 
Gui Meneses recalled that the company submitted its application for support to the construction of a new plant on December 20, 2017. Currently, it is being analysed by the technicians of the Regional Secretariat for the Sea, Science and Technology.
 
The government official announced that the Azorean Government, through the Regional Secretariat for Social Solidarity, will "ensure the payment of day-care fees for the children of COFACO workers until the opening of the new plant on Pico Island."
 
This measure covers 32 children and counts on the partnership of "Santa Casa da Misericórdia" of Madalena, assuring the maintenance of a gratuitous care scheme that already benefited workers.
 
The Regional Secretary stated that the Regional Directorate for Employment and Vocational Training "promoted an intervention plan that comprises the training of COFACO workers."
 
Gui Menezes also recalled that he met last week with the workers in order to clarify the application process that the company submitted for Community support. It is taking place under the terms provided for in the applicable Community, national and regional legislation.