Personnel from the agriculture ministry’s environment department and members of the civil servants’ union Pasydy staged a protest on Friday morning outside the House of Representatives where the environment committee held a session on the risk, health, and safety aspects of recyclable tyre storage areas.
The personnel are protesting the department’s understaffing and the unfair attacks often levelled against them.
They say that the department’s personnel are often subjects to insults, provocations, and threats because of the perception of the work being done there or lack thereof. Moreover, they consider the critique levelled against the department from the Republic’s Audit office as misplaced.
Regarding the department’s staffing numbers, they cite studies produced in the last 20 years whose recommendations have yet to be addressed. This include the need for at least 180 organic positions while the 2022 budget only has approved 89 positions, of which 40 have yet to be filled.
The department’s personnel also notes that in the past years they have collected 10,500 tons of tyres, that is, approximately 800,000 tyres, which if left exposed would constitute potential sources of fire, and pollution.
They lastly warn that without proper and immediate staffing of the department, the environment and public health are in immediate danger.
The Greens issued an announcement in their support, saying more staff must be hired in order to achieve EU goals for reducing emissions.
“The department’s understaffing demonstrates once again that the Government protects the environment and supports critical departments and services only in words. Pompous announcements are not accompanied by projects and good practices.”
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