Following the suspension by the TAR of the second paragraph of article 5 - the one concerning the time limits for slots - of the Palermo nightlife regulation, which will come into force tomorrow, a meeting took place this morning between Fisascat Cisl Palermo Trapani and the councilor to Productive Activities, Giuliano Forzinetti, to go into the merits of the issue relating to bingo halls.
“We met councilor Forzinetti this morning to express to him our concerns regarding the repercussions that this regulation could have on the employment of workers employed in the bingo sector – he explains Stefano Spitalieri, general secretary of Fisascat Cisl Palermo Trapani -. One of the points on which the decree will focus, in fact, is the limitation of the times of use of the slot machines also positioned inside the bingo halls which will have to turn off by 20 pm.
“In our opinion, when we talk about gaming halls – continues the trade unionist – specific reflections should be dedicated to the slot machines positioned inside the bingo halls. The rooms, in fact, record a greater turnout of customers precisely in the evening hours from which the vast majority of their business derives. If no distinction were made, there would be a risk of severely limiting the activity carried out within the bingo halls with consequent very strong repercussions on the employment of workers who operate in the legal gaming sector. It is necessary, in fact, to think in time about all the possible scenarios that could be envisaged to avoid the possibility that, from a measure launched with the aim of making Palermo and the community safer, it could instead have a negative and heavy impact on employment levels of workers in the sector. We register positively - concludes the Cislino trade unionist - the willingness expressed this morning by councilor Forzinetti to go into the merits of the issue in a sector where, too often, many ideological prejudices exist. We hope that our complaints can also be welcomed positively by the mayor and the entire city council in the superior interests of many Palermo workers and their families".
