The Associação Empresarial da Serra da Lousã (AESL) demanded an “urgent and structured response from the Government” today in response to the fires ravaging the interior Central region of the country, calling for enhanced and adapted measures to the current reality.
In a statement sent to the Lusa news agency, the Lousã-based association expressed “deep concern about the devastating damage caused by the fires” this month, which they stated have “severe environmental, social, and economic consequences.”
The AESL hopes today’s extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting in Viseu will decide on “robust support for companies, with specific treasury and financing lines to recover production units, factories, machinery, raw materials, and destroyed stocks.”
Another measure the business association wants to see implemented is the immediate activation of simplified ‘lay-off’ measures, “allowing companies in crisis to safeguard jobs while rebuilding their activities.”
Extension and flexibility of payment deadlines for taxes and contributions, full support for recovering losses suffered by local populations and agents, a consistent forest recovery program, or a support line for business recovery are other measures advocated by AESL.
“The recovery of companies and local economic agents is essential for employment, income, and social cohesion in the most affected regions. Without clear and immediate support, the reconstruction will be incomplete, and many communities risk losing their economic base,” noted Carlos Alves, president of AESL, as cited in the statement.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro convened an extraordinary Council of Ministers for today in Viseu to approve support measures for the populations affected by the forest fires.
