Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 1992
PORTUGAL
* A separate report for Macau, a dependency of Portugal off the southern coast of China, follows
this report.
The Republic of Portugal is a parliamentary democracy with a president and legislative
assembly freely elected by secret ballot. Former Prime Minister and Socialist
Party head Mario Soares was elected Portugal's first civilian President in 60 years
in 1986 and reelected by a wide margin in 1991. In legislative elections in 1991,
Prime Minister Cavaco Silva and his Social Democratic Party (PSD) were returned
to office with an increased majoritv in Parliament.
Internal security is primarily the responsibility of the Ministries of Justice and
Internal Administration. Security forces are fully controlled by and responsive to the
Govemment. Total military expenditures for 1989, the last year for whidi the United
States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency conducted a detailed analysis,
were $1,457 million. Plans to cut these expenditures substantially by downsizing
and restructuring military forces are being debated. There are indications that a
substantial reduction wUlbe implemented during 1993.
Portugal has a market-based economy and is a member of the European Community.
An increasing proportion of the population is employed in services. Employment
in the agricultural sector continued to decline, and employment in the industrial
sector is static.
Portuguese citizens enjoy a broad range of civil and other human rights. Civil
rights are outlined in the Constitution. An Ombudsman, chosen by the Assembly of
the Republic (legislature) to serve a 4-year term, is Portugal's chief civil and human
rights officer. Any citizen may apply to the Ombudsman lor relief. The Ombudsman
receives about 3,000 compladnts annually, most of them concerning cases of alleged
maladministration by Portugal's cumbersome bureaucracy and delays in the judicial
process.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from
a. Political and Other Extrajudicial Killing.
Government-sanctioned political or other extrajudicial killings do not occur. There were no killings attributed to domestic
terrorist groups.
b. Disappearance.
Government or police authorities do not abduct, secretly arrest, or otherwise illegally detain persons.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
The Constitution forbids torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment,
and the use of evidence obtained under torture in criminal proceedings. The Ombudsman
investigates complaints of mistreatment by police and prison authorities.
It was announced in late December that the Provedor de Justica will open a formal
investigation into allegations of police brutality and mistreatment of prisoners.
The investigation is in response to increased numbers (over 30) of complaints.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
Under Portuguese law, an investigating
judge reviews the case against a person under arrest to determine whether that person
should be detained, released on bail, or released outright. Persons may not be
held for more than 48 hours without appearing before an investigating judge. Investigative
detention is limited to a maximum of 6 months for each suspected crime,
n a formal charge has not been filed within that period, the person detained must
be released. In cases involving serious crimes, such as murder or armed robbery,
or in cases involving more than one suspect, investigative detention is permitted for
up to 2 years and may be extended by a judge to 3 years in extraordinary circumstances.
A suspect must be brought to trial within 18 months of his or her being
formally charged. Detainees have access to lawyers, who are generally effective in
firotecting their clients' rights. Defendants who cannot afford representation have a
awyer appointed for them by the presiding judge, who chooses from a list maintained
by the Lawyers Association. Fees are paid by the Government.
Exile and incommunicado detention are illegal and not practiced in Portugal.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
Portugal has an independent and impartial judiciaJ
system. All trials are public except those which may offend the dignity of the
victim, such as in cases involving the sexual abuse of children. The accused is presumed
innocent until proven guilty.
In trials for serious crimes, a panel of three judges (which does not include the
investigating judge) presides. In trials for lesser crimes, a single judge presides. A
ministerial delegate assists the judges in reviewing the evidence. At the request of
the accused, a jury may be used in trials for major crimes, such as those against
security of the State and crimes against humanity. In practice requests for jury
trials are extremely rare. Sentence may be passed only in the presence of the defense
attorney.
Portugal holds no political prisoners.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
The
Constitution forbids both forced entry into homes and searches without a judicial
warrant. In addition, entry into a person's home at ni^t requires the consent of
the occupant. The State does not intercept private correspondence or place wiretaps
except with a court order.
Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
Freedom of speech and press is provided for in
the Constitution and respected by the State. The constitutionally mandated High
Commission for Social Communication acts as a watchdog to protect freedom of
speech and access to the media. The Commission, members of which are chosen by
the Government and by the Assembly of the Republic, makes recommendations to
the Assembly and has enforcement powers. The academic community is free to express
its views.
The State owns two television channels. However, the provision of the Constitution
making television a state monopoly was removed in 1990, and Portugal's first
privately owned station began operating in October 1992. In principle, the Government
does not exercise direct control over the state-owned television system, thou^
it does wield considerable influence through personnel appointments. Opposition
parties sometimes charge that the state network ignores or distorts opposition views
and activities; station news directors defend their decisions as based on editorial
judgments, not political partisanship. All political parties, even veiy small ones, use
their legal right to "antenna time" during prime viewing and listening hours.
In 1989 the Government passed legislation permitting the operation of private
radio stations. More than 250 local stations are on the air.
The entire spectrum of political thought is represented in the Portuguese press.
There is no press censorship. All newspapers are privately owned.
"Fascist" organizations are prohibited by law, although some small, extreme ri^twing
groups hold meetings of their membership and run candidates for public omce
without interference. The law provides that a person may be prosecuted for "insulting"
certain state authorities if the "insult" is intended to undermine the rule of law,
but there were no such prosecutions in recent years.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Persons have the right, in law
and practice, to associate formally or informally to promote nonviolent causes. Public
meetings or protests require 24-hour advance notice to the civil governor of the
region in which the event is to be held. Permission is routinely granted. The official
registration of a new political party requires 5,000 signatures.
c. Freedom of Religion
Portugal does not have a state religion. The Government
does not interfere with the practice of religion, missionary work, or religious publications.
These freedoms extend to foreign clergy, many of whom work in Portugal.
Organized religious groups may establish places of worship, train clergy, and proselytize
without government interference. To qualify as tax-exempt institutions, religious
groups must be established as nonprofit, private societies.
Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion in Portugal. Roman Catholic religious
instruction is ofTered as an elective course in public schools. Other denominations
offer religious education in their own institutions without interference. Success
in a civil, military, professional, or political career does not depend upon adherence
to a religious creed. There were no reported cases of religious persecution in 1992.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
The Constitution provides for the right of freedom of movement, foreign
travel, and emigration. There are no restraints on domestic travel or on the right
of a person to change his domicile. Citizenship is not revoked for political reasons.
Displaced persons who qualify as refugees as defined by the International Convention
Relating to the Status of Refugees are entitled to permanent resident status
and work permits. Displaced persons are not forced to return to the country from
which they fled.
Section 3. Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
Portugal is a multiparty, participatory democracy. Candidates for president and
for legislative, regional, and municipal offices are freely nominated and are elected
by secret ballot on the basis of universal suffrage.
The unicameral Assembly of the Republic is the legislative body. The Prime Minister
is the head of the Government. Opposition parties and candidates operate freely
and enjoy access to the media. General elections are held at least once every 4
years. The President has a 5-year term and may not serve more than two of sudi
terms consecutively.
There are no restrictions on the participation of women or minorities in the political
process, and women and minorities do participate. Women are represented in
parliament, holding 19 out of 230 seats, including the office of Vice F*resident of the
Assembly.
Section 4. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation of Alleged Violations ofHuman Rights
Local and international human rights groups operate freely in Portugal. The Government
cooperates with independent outside investigations of human rights conditions
and actively participates in the monitoring of human rights by the Council of
Europe.
Section 5. Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Language, or Social Status
The Constitution forbids discrimination based on ancestry, sex, race, language,
territory of origin, religion, political or ideological convictions, education, economic
situation, or social condition. The principal minority groups are immigrants, legal
and illegal, from Portugal's former African colonies (Angola, Cape Verde, Guinea-
Bissau, Mozambique, and Sao Tome and Principe). The Cape Verdian population is
the largest—over 25,000. There is also a resident Gypsy population. The Government
has announced a 4-month period (October 1992 to January 1993) during which
illegal immigrants can regularize their status in Portugal. The Africans are actively
organizing associations to serve as pressure groups. They campaign against what
they perceive to be racism in Portugal. The Government denies that racist actions
are taking place. There are no laws discriminating against any racial, ethnic, or religious
group; nor do any such groups have a privileged status in Portugal.
Various women's groups in Portugal have drawn attention to the largely hidden
problem of violence against women, particularly within the family. Portuguese law
provides for criminal penalties in cases of violence between husbands and wives,
without referring specifically to violence against wives. Women's groups point out
that traditional attitudes discourage many women who suffer such violence from
seeking recourse in the judicial system. They complain that Portugal lacks institutions
established specifically to provide reliei to battered women. There is no apparent
reluctance on the part of the judicial system to prosecute suspects accused of
abusing women.
The Civil Code provides for full legal equality for women. Women are increasing
their representation in universities, business, science, government, and the professions.
Traditional attitudes of male dominance persist but are changing gradually.
The Commission on the Status of Women has been abolished, and its responsibilities
have been assumed by the Committee for the Equality and Rights of Women.
The Committee works under the direction of the Ministry of Employment and Social
Security. Its principal activities have been in the area of women's rights in the
workplace.
Section 6. Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
Both private and public sector workers have the
right to associate freely and to establish committees in the workplace "to defend
their interests." The Constitution provides for the right to establish unions by profession
or industry. Trade union associations are guaranteed the right to participate
in the preparation of labor legislation. Strikes are permitted for any reason, including
political causes. They are common and are generally resolved through direct nefotiations
between management and the unions involved. Lockouts are prohibited,
'hese constitutional guarantees are respected inpractice.
There are two principal labor federations. The General Confederation of Portuguese
Workers Intersindical (CGTP-IN) is linked to the Communist Party and has
engaged freely in cooperative activities with the Communist-dominated World Federation
of Trade Unions. The CGTP-IN is expected, however, to make its entry into
the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) in 1993. The General Union of
Workers (UGT) is a pluralist democratic federation affiliated with the International
Confederation of Free Trade Unions and the ETUC.
Both federations and their affiliates function free from government control but are
closely associated with political parties. The CGTP-IN generally supports the Communist
Party's policies and causes, but this position was openly criticized by elements
of the membership in 1991-92. UGT leaders are associated with either the
Socialist or Social Democratic parties. Although some UGT leaders serve in the Assembly
of the Republic, the federation pursues a generally independent path that
occasionally puts it in conflict with the Socialist and Social Democratic Parties. The
labor movement in Portugal exercises significant influence on social and economic
policymaking.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
Unions are free to organize
without government or employer interference. Collective bargaining is guaranteed
by the Constitution and practiced extensively in the public and private sectors.
When collective bargaining disputes lead to prolonged strike action in key sectors
(for example, health and transportation), the Government is empowered to order the
workers back to work for a specific period. While the Government has rarely done
so in practice, in part due to the fact that most strike activity is limited to periods
of 1 to 3 days, in May Lisbon subway workers were ordered back to work under
this provision. When collective bargaining fails, the Government, at the request of
either management or labor, may appoint a mediator.
Union officials and members are protected by law against antiunion discrimination,
and this law is observed in practice. Complaints are promptly examined by the
General Directorate of Labor.
Portugal has no ejmort processing zones.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
Forced labor is prohibited and
does not exist.
d. Minimum Age for Ernployment of Children.—The minimum employment age is
15 years. The UGT and CGTP-IN charged that a number of "clandestine" companies
(operating out of homes and garages) in the textile and shoe industries in northern
Portugal exploit child labor. A report presented by Anti-Slavery International to the
United Nations in 1991, based on 2 months of investigation, alleged that as many
as 200,000 school-age children could be woricing. Althou^ the Government disputed
the 200,000 figure, it acknowledged that abuses exist and promised to act to curb
them; over a year has passed, but the problem has not been resolved. The General
Labor Inspectorate is responsible for enforcement of child labor laws. Progress toward
prosecution of those employing children has been slow, but funding of the
Inspectorate has been increased, and the number of inspectors is growing. The
Inspectorate has begun to levy large fines as a result of a 1991 change in the law
which raised the maximum fine for employers using child labor more than a hundred
fold.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
Minimum wage legislation covers full-time
workers, as well as rural workers and domestic employees age 18 or over. The current
minimum monthly wage, established on January 1, 1991, is generally enforced.
Even with rent control and various social assistance subsidies, it is difficult for a
single-income family to maintain a decent standard of living on the minimum wage
income, particularly in urban areas.
Current legislation limits regular work to 8 hours per day and 44 hours per week,
but agreement has been reached to reduce the wortweek to 40 hours by 1995. In
practice, the average workweek is 42 hours. Overtime is limited to 2 hours per day,
up to 200 hours annually. Work on a normal day off is restricted to 8 hours. These
limits are respected in practice. Workers are guaranteed 15 days of paid annual
leave per year. The Ministry of Employment and Social Security monitors compliance
through its regional inspectors.
Employers are legally responsible for accidents at work and are required by law
to carry accident insurance. Portugal has developed a body of legislation that regulates
safety and health. Labor unions consider these regulations inadequate and
continue to press for stiffer legislation. A new law was passed in 1992 as the first
step in an agreement reached with the unions in 1991 governing hygiene, safety,
and health in the workplace; it also authorizes the establishment of an institute devoted
to these issues. Tne General Directorate of Hygiene and Labor Security develops
safety standards, and the General Labor Inspectorate is responsible for enforcement,
but it lacks sufficient funds and inspectors to combat the problem eflectiveW.
Accidents average between 70,000 and 75,000 per quarter. These figures have focused
government attention particularly on the construction industiy. There is also
considerable concern about poor environmental controls on the textile industry centered
in northern Portugal. The ability of workers to remove themselves from situations
where hazards exist is limited, but it is difficult to fire workers for any reason.
About 4 percent of the strikes in Portugal in 1991 were over health and safetyrelated
issues. TTiree-quarters of those strikes saw the workers' demands completely
refused. In the remaining quarter, the workers' demands were only partially satisfied.
Lawsuits are rarely initiated in accident cases.
MACAU
Macau, a tiny enclave comprised of a peninsula and two islands on the south
China coast and encompassing only 6 square miles, is recognized by both China and
Portugal as Chinese territory under Portuguese administration. The "Organic Statute"
of 1976, which serves as Macau's constitution, grants it considerable administrative,
financial, and legislative autonomy. Legislative power is shared by the Portuguese
Government and the territory's Legislative Assembly. Macau's Governor,
appointed by the Portuguese President, holds expansive powers under the statute.
Portuguese Metropolitan Law serves as the basis for the legal system, which features
an independent judiciary and jury trials. Legislation this year provided for the
establishment of a Supreme Court of Justice. The police force is firmly under the
control of the civilian authorities. Macau's economy is fueled by legalized gambling,
which has produced a thriving tourist industry, and by the export of textiles and
other light industrial products. With a population of less than half a million people,
Macau has a per capita gross domestic product of over $8,000.
Under the 1987 Sino-Portuguese Joint Declaration, Macau will become a Special
Administrative Region (SAR) of China on December 20, 1999, and operate under a
principle of "one country, two systems," with the enclave's social, economic, and
legal systems to remain unchanged for 50 years. The Macau SAR's future constitution,
called the "basic law," is expected to be promulgated in 1993.
Citizens of Macau enjoy a wide range of rights and freedoms. The fundamental
human rights contained in the Portuguese Constitution apply in Macau, and China
has promised to include "relevant sections" of the International Covenant on Civil
and Political Rights in the basic law. The principal human rights problem in the
territory of Macau involves the restriction of the right of citizens to change their
government or determine their political futures: Macau's Governor is appointed by
the Portuguese President, only a third of legislators are directly elected, and the territory's
future path has been set largely by Lisbon and Beijing.
RESPECT FOR HUMAN RIGHTS
Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person, Including Freedom from
a. Political and Other Extrajudicial Killing.
Government authorities do not practice
these abuses.
b. Disappearance.
The authorities do not practice or condone secret arrests or
clandestine confinements.
c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment.
Such abuses are prohibited by law and were not known to occur in 1992.
d. Arbitrary Arrest, Detention, or Exile
Legal prohibitions against arbitrary arrest
exist and are honored. The examining judge, who conducts a pretrial inquiring
criminal cases, has a wide range of powers to collect evidence, order or dismiss indictments,
validate and maintain the detention of suspects, and determine whether
to release accused persons. Persons remanded in custody must be presented to an
examining judge within 48 hours of being detained. The accused's counsel may examine
the evidence. If the judge is not convinced that the evidence is adequate, he
may dismiss the accused. Exile is not practiced.
e. Denial of Fair Public Trial
Fair trial is guaranteed and practiced. The courts
are independent of the executive, and juries determine questions of fact in criminal
cases. At present, Macau's courts are integrated into the Portuguese judicial system,
and decisions are appealable to the superior Portuguese courts. However, Macau is
scheduled to set up a Supreme Court some time in 1993. This move will give the
enclave nearly complete judicial autonomy, although in cases involving "basic rights
of the citizen" defendants may appeal to Portugal's Constitutional Court, which can
overturn all lower court rulings.
f. Arbitrary Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence
Macau
currently has laws ensuring the inviolability of the home and of communication, the
right of ownership of private property and of enterprises, and the freedom to marry
and raise a family. There is no indication of any abuses either condoned or practiced
by the government authorities.
Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties, Including
a. Freedom of Speech and Press
Independent or critical opinions receive consistent
airing on radio and television and in public forums. The Government owns a
majority share of the radio and television service and ensures that all candidates
receive equal time during election campaigns. However, freedom of the press is more
restricted. Most of Macau's newspapers are pro-China publications that do not give
equal coverage to liberal and prodemocracy forces. Self-censorship is growing among
newspaper reporters, some of whom express fears that they will lose their jobs if
they criticize China or government policy. The academic community is free to express
its views, though some academics report that they avoid research on topics
that entail criticism of China.
b. Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and Association
Legal guarantees exist and are
largely observed. However, the Government in 1992 attempted to enforce a ban on
gatherings within 50 meters of government buildings, which would exclude demonstrations
from the city center and allow them only on outlying islands.
c. Freedom of Religion
Macau is a predominantly Buddhist society. Members of
other religious may and do exist and practice their religious freely.
d. Freedom of Movement Within the Country, Foreign Travel, Emigration, and Repatriation
No restrictions exist on movement within the enclave; emigration and
foreign travel are unlimited. The Government reports that about 100,000 of Macau's
400,000 inhabitants have the right of abode in Portugal.
The Government's oflicial policy since 1982 has been to guide all Vietnamese boat
people arriving in Macau waters to Hong Kong territorial waters. There were no arrivals
of boat people in Macau in 1992. The 20 remaining boat people remaining in
Macau live in public housing and work in the local economy.
Section 3. Respect for Political Rights: The Right of Citizens to Change Their Government
Citizens have only a limited ability to change their government. In a by-election
in the summer, 6 members were added to the Legislative Assembly (2 appointed,
2 elected, 2 indirectly elected through functional constituencies). The 23-member
Legislative Assembly is comprised of 8 members elected in universal, direct elections;
8 indirectly elected by local community interests; and 7 appointed by the Governor.
The Consultative Council, an advisory group to the Governor composed of
elected and appointed members, also provides some measure of popular representation.
The Macau Government, by tradition, also consults informally on a regular
basis with local business and cultural leaders.
Section 4. Governmental Attitude Regarding International and Nongovernmental Investigation
of Alleged Violations of Human Rights
Local human rights organizations operate freely in Macau, and Amnesty International
sent a delegation to study a final draft, of the basic law, the constitution
of the future SAR. The delegation was received by Macau government authorities.
Section 5. Discrimination Based on Race, Sex, Religion, Language, or Social Status
Freedom from discrimination is guaranteed by law. However, in practice Macau's
governmental and legal systems place a premium on knowledge of the Portuguese
language, which is spoken by less than 4 percent of the population. Thus, about 60
percent of the approximately 130 senior government officials come from Portugal.
Most of the other middle and upper ranking civil servants are Macanese—Eurasians
of Chinese and Portuguese descent. There is significant public pressure for the Government
to speed up the process of making the civil service more representative of
the population. In January the Government gave the Chinese language official status
and the same legal force as Portuguese.
Traditionally, women have played a minor role in local political life. However,
they are becoming more active and visible in business and government, and some
enjoy considerable influence and responsibility in these areas. Women are members
of the Legislative Assembly and Cabinet, and many hold senior posts in the civil
service.
Cases of violence against women are not common. For cases that are reported,
Macau's criminal statutes prohibiting domestic violence are enforced and violators
prosecuted. Police and doctors report abuses to the Social Welfare Department,
which investigates them. If hospital treatment is required, a medical social worker
counsels the victim and informs her about social welfare services. Until their complaints
are resolved, battered women may be placed in public housing, but no facilities
are reserved especially for them.
Section 6. Worker Rights
a. The Right of Association
Macau labor law recognizes the right and freedom
of all workers to form and join trade unions and of private sector unions to strike.
The Government neither impedes the formation of trade unions nor discriminates
against union members. One maior strike occurred in 1992 when garbage collectors
walked out. The police are legally prohibited from striking but occasionally engage
in massive 'Mob actions" which are strikes in all Tjut name.
Local trade union activities, including the selection of union leadership, are heavily
influenced by mainland Chinese interests, which stress the importance of stability
and minimum disruption of the work force. Nearly all of Macau's 7,000 private
sector union members belong to a pro-PRC labor confederation. Many local observers
claim that this organization is more interested in furthering the PRC political
agenda in Macau than in addressing classic trade union issues. A few private sector
unions and, two of the four public sector unions are outside PRC control.
Macau unions may freely form federations and afliliate with international bodies.
Three civil service unions are affiliated with the major non-Communist Portuguese
union confederation, which itself has international labor ties.
b. The Right to Organize and Bargain Collectively
Unions tend to resemble local
traditional neighborhood associations, promoting social and cultural activities rather
than issues relating to the workplace. Local custom, moreover, normally favors employment
without the benefit of written labor contracts—except in the case of importation
of labor from China. Reflecting PRC influence, unions traditionally have not
attempted to engage in collective bargaining. While Portuguese laws protecting collective
bargaining apply to Macau, the Government does not impede or discourage
it. There are no government mechanisms to promote voluntary negotiations.
There is no minimum wage law in Macau; wages are set by the market. Portuguese
law applied to Macau prohibits antiunion discrimination. There were no
complaints about this issue in 1992. There are no export processing zones in Macau.
c. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor
Compulsory labor is illegal and
does not exist.
d. Minimum Age for Employment of Children
Minors under the age of 15 are
forbidden legally to work except in businesses operated by their families. The law
is enforced by the Macau Labor Department, which refers offending employers to
the judicial authorities for prosecution. The Labor Department claims that the incidence
of child labor has declined radically since effective enforcement began in 1985.
There were two prosecutions for child labor violations in 1992.
e. Acceptable Conditions of Work
In the absence of any statutory minimum wage
or publicly administered social security program, some large companies have provided
private welfare and security packages. Calls for labor reform, medical insurance,
a social security system, and increases in employee compensation figure regularly
in political campaign platforms. To offset a current labor shortage, the Macau
Government allows the importation of labor from China under contract, while at the
same time imposing heavy fines on employers harboring illegal immigrants. Roughly
12,000 imported Chinese laborers are now in Macau, most working on construction
of the new airport. The number of imported workers in other jobs totals between
2,000 and 3,000 out of an estimated work force of 195,000.
Existing labor legislation provides for a 48-hour workweek, (regularly 8 hours per
day, but no more than IOV'2 hours per day)l overtime, annual leave, medical and
maternity care, and employee compensation insurance. The Department of Labor
provides assistance and legal advice to workers on requestl but government enforcement
of labor laws can be lax because of limited resources.
Laws on occupational safety and health are enforced by the Labor Department
which reported 1,171 infractions of occupational safety and health laws through
mid-November, mostly in the construction sector. Failure to correct infractions leads
to government prosecution.
