On July 14, 1999, DIÁRIO reported on the denunciation by the Construction Union regarding the hiring of minors under 16 in Madeira's construction sector.
At the time, the union's president, Diamantino Alturas, told DIÁRIO about companies, particularly subcontractors, employing underage individuals. Alturas recalled finding two youths, aged 14 and 15, at a Funchal construction site and alerting the Regional Labor Inspectorate.
The union leader called for more consistent action from the Regional Labor Inspectorate, proposing a specialized construction brigade. This team, led by a civil technical engineer, would assess worker age and status, as well as site safety conditions.
