Low wages the norm in Algarve hotels despite higher occupancy and room rates

pestanaThe hotel workers’ trade union warned today about low pay in the sector, saying that about 60% of hotel staff and 80% of catering workers are struggling by on the minimum wage.
 
A statement from the union, denies assurances from the Association of Hoteliers of Portugal (AHP) and the Portuguese Tourism Confederation (CTP) that staff are earning more.

Missing in 2016: 50,000 old cars - exactly where are they now?

CarCarshBeahRocksEnvironmental organisation, Zero, has been analysing the 2016 data concerning old and scrapped cars and has “serious doubts” as to the whereabouts of 49,772 end-of-life vehicles.
 
The organisation has asked the Ministry of the Environment and the Tax and Customs Authority for clarification.

Unconscious French limpet collector rescued by Ferragudo lifeboat crew

barlaventohospitalA 68-year-old French tourist, slipped and fell, lying unconscious on the rocks below the Arade Castle in Ferragudo having banger her head.
 
An alert was received by the Ferragudo Lifeboat station at 10:45am which dispatched a crew.

Barroso caught lobbying for Goldman Sachs despite ban

barrosoPortugal’s Durão Barroso, former Prime Minister of Portugal, former EC President and current employee of the giant vampire squid, Goldman Sachs, has been caught lobbying on behalf of his employer, breaking a ban imposed by the European Commission when he left office.

EU Commissioner, Jyrki Katainen, confirmed he had a lobby meeting with Barroso who had his Goldman Sachs International hat on.

Portugal’s pharmacists against legalisation of medicinal cannabis

cannabis"There is no scientific evidence to prove the efficacy and safety of its use," according to the Pharmacists’ working group when reporting to the parliamentary committee on health.
 
The group’s four expert pharmacists say there is no robust scientific evidence regarding the benefit-to-risk ratio of the use of the cannabis plant "for medicinal purposes," adding that, "there is strong evidence that there are safety concerns and toxicological potential."

Spain ignores Portugal in approving a uranium mine near the border

nuclearfuelrodsSpain has licensed a uranium mine in Retortillo, about 40 kilometres from the Portuguese border, without consulting the Portuguese State or carrying out the necessary, cross-border environmental impact study.
 
In a move similar to the Almaraz nuclear power plant fuel dump project, where Spain ignored the cross-border rules and pressed ahead while ignoring its neighbour, the authorisation of a uranium mine is causing another diplomatic melt-down.

Messines crash leaves mother dead and baby badly injured

INEM125A 39-year-old woman driver died after her car had a head-on collision with a lorry on the road between Silves and Messines.
 
The accident happened this afternoon at Corte, on the EN124.  

Bank charges row continues with Caixa Geral in the firing line

caixageral2Missing the point completely, the Ministry of Finance says that Caixa Geral's account fees are "in line" with competitors and that “price convergence is important to ensure the viability of the public bank.”
 
The public contend that all the banks have put their charges up in tandem to fill the profit gap left by operating inefficient and overstaffed operations that have failed to adjust to a new reality.