The Portuguese Red Cross (CVP) announced this Friday the closure of its two houses in Beja until July 31, guaranteeing that it will “search for the best solution” for users and ensure “all rights” for workers.
In a statement sent to Lusa, the CVP said that “after assessing the grave physical condition” of the buildings in which the Henri Dunant and José Antonio Marques nursing homes operate, it “decided to close” these social measures in the Alentejo commune of Beja.
“Given the age of the buildings and even the impossibility of carrying out work on one of them at the request of the landlord, the assessment concluded that it was impossible to carry out functional improvements that would reverse this situation,” he explained.
The institution, headed by António Saraiva, also stressed that “the decision to close has now become the only viable alternative, given the precarious condition of the buildings, which do not guarantee the quality and decent services that CVP provides.”
As a result, Henry Dunant’s Casa de Repouso and José Antonio Marquez’s Casa de Repouso will close their services “until July 31st,” the note said.
These two residential aged care homes (ERPI) housed approximately 60 people and it was already possible to “place 11 users in other social care settings” through vacancies provided by Social Security.
“Another nine people have left on their own initiative,” CVP added, guaranteeing that it will continue to “search for a better solution for the 37 people who still remain in these ERPIs.”
Regarding its 25 workers in Beja, CVP announced that it was not possible to move them to other social institutions under its responsibility, so “it will continue to terminate employment contracts in accordance with the ERPI closure dates.”
“Access to all applicable legal rights will be guaranteed, while CVP will undertake individual monitoring of each worker, taking into account their socio-economic status,” he assured.
CVP added that “whenever necessary” it will include these employees “in its social support system”.
In addition, the institution establishes contacts “with other employers in the region in order to find professional solutions for as many workers as possible.”
On April 12, PCP reported that, through MP Alfredo Maia, it had questioned the government on how it intends to protect the jobs of employees in the two houses that the CVP will “close in Beja” and on the care of users living in these facilities. .
In response to questions addressed to the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security Maria do Rosario Palma Ramalho and the Minister of National Defense Nuno Mel, the PCP said it wanted to know “what knowledge does the government have about the situation described in relation to the announced closure of two Red Cross houses in Beje.”
And “what measures will the government take to immediately ensure that the users living in the above-mentioned Red Cross houses are taken care of,” as well as guarantee jobs and workers’ rights.