THURROCK Council's demand that employees who smoke should have to work an extra two-and-a-half hours a week: Smokers are told to work king-size hours (Ben, January 15) is another example of the mindless discrimination adult smokers face. If other workers were similarly persecuted on the basis of their sex, race or religion, then there would be widespread condemnation. It appears, however, that it is "respectable" to hound smokers.

The spurious accusation is that smokers aren't pulling their weight and are skiving off work. Not a single study has been produced to substantiate this trumped-up charge. If a smoker, or anybody else for that matter, is taking more breaks than they are allowed, then there are sanctions in the employment contract to bring them to heel.

Once again the smoker is being singled out for persecution. Are people who nip off for a coffee break or to stretch their legs or wander around the office gossiping, to be asked to work back the time spent on these activities? Those quick to criticise smokers might do well to examine their own behaviour.

The question for all councils to address is whether they are justified in discriminating against adult smokers, both among their workforce and the local population. Local authorities often profess to be "serving the community" but this is clearly a lie if their policy causes the social exclusion of the one-in-three local taxpayers who smoke.

Martin Ball

Campaigns Director, FOREST

Audley House, 13 Palace Street, London SW1E 5HX

Tel: 07071 766537

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