The Algarve Chambers will form a common front to negotiate with the unions and adopt the 35-hour weekly regime. The decision was taken unanimously at the meeting of the Intermunicipal Council of AMAL, which brings together the 16 mayors of the Algarve.
Last September, the Government launched the diploma that increases the hours of public service from 35 to 40 hours a week, but the Algarve authorities intend to take advantage of the exception regime provided for in the law, which determines the possibility of maintaining 35 hours, when there is negotiation with union forces.
«All Councils [of AMAL – Algarve Intermunicipal Community] believe that we should maintain the current 35-hour regime. Therefore, we decided to negotiate together with the unions, so that we can all have the same timetable», revealed AMAL president Jorge Botelho, on the sidelines of Monday's meeting.
The submission of the request to the Government, another necessary step to adopt a system of 35 hours per week, will also be joint, which will allow for a quicker deliberation on the part of the Secretary of State.
«There were already some Algarve Councils that were moving ahead with this process, but they will wait a while for it to be done together», revealed, also Jorge Botelho.
The AMAL president underlined the unanimity on this matter, as he considers that total consensus among the mayors is fundamental for the Algarve's negotiating power, not only in this matter, "but also with regard to health policies", the hot topic that was discussed at the same meeting of the AMAL Intermunicipal Council.
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