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Madeira's annual flower festival to be hit by strike action

Xinhua, March 23, 2015 Adjust font size:

Portugal's annual flower festival, which takes place in the island of Madeira in April, will be hit by strikes over poor working conditions, President of Madeira's hospitality trade union Adolfo Freitas said on Monday.

According to Portuguese Lusa News Agency, the flower festival, which takes place from April 16 to 22 and attracts a large number of tourists from around the world, will be disrupted due to protests, strikes and legal actions.

Adolfo Freitas, president of the trade union, said during a protest which took place in front of Pestana Casino Park Hotel in Funchal, the capital of the island on Monday, that hotel employees were victims of "inhumane" contracts and "years of sacrifice", despite Madeira having had experienced a "golden era" for tourism.

"There has been no rise in salary despite the huge profits companies have seen," Freitas said, adding that employers were considering introducing measures like 12-hour working days and withdrawing holidays.

Madeira's annual flower festival includes floats, floral carpets and folklore shows and concerts among other activities. Endit