A new anti-smoking law that continues to permit smoking in workplaces puts at risk the health of hotel and restaurant workers, the union that represents the industry said yesterday, calling the new legislation “hypocritical.”
Casinos and other gambling establishments, as well as restaurants and bars where employees are subject to smoke, are examples highlighted by the Union of Hotel, Tourism and Restaurant Workers (CGTP) as being impacted by the law.
“Operators of casinos and gambling rooms only open games in areas where smoking is allowed, and it is very difficult to open any gaming table in areas where smoking is prohibited,” the union said in a statement, one day after the new law took effect.
In bingo rooms, according to the union, “it is not even noted where one can and cannot smoke,” given that there are no barriers and the smoke “is smelled throughout the room”.
In bars and clubs, in general, “nobody follows the law anyway,” said the union.
“There is a climate of general impunity; the authorities don’t act in accordance with their competencies”, reads the document, which criticizes the lack of action at the ASAE, the PSP, the GNR and the Work Conditions Authority, as well as the inspector of gaming and tourism in Portugal.
“By law, the workers can only stay three hours in locations where smoking is permitted, but nobody normally monitors this, and the workers are afraid to complain,” said the union.
For the workers, the new law continues to avoid confrontations with casino operators and restaurant and bar patrons who abuse the full smoking ban in these establishments.
As of Monday, the consumption of alcohol and tobacco in open air locations is prohibited, and the law taking effect broadens the concept of smoking.
The new law follows a proposal from the government that members of Parliament have modified. It was approved last June.
In taking effect on the first day of the year, it is now illegal to smoke in places frequented by minors, even outdoor locations such as vacation areas and playgrounds.
“When we see a law that prohibits the smoking of tobacco in some public spaces and allows people to continue to smoke in workplaces, such a law only merits our vehement protest and our deepest repulsion for being discriminatory and offensive to our health and dignity,” declared the union.
