Social partners concluded their 53rd meeting without reaching an agreement on labour reform, in what is expected to be the final technical session before either a compromise is reached or negotiations are permanently broken off. The deadlock hinges on the position the UGT will take and the Government's final willingness to concede on 'red lines' identified by the trade union. The draft version of the labour law amendments resulting from this meeting will be presented by the UGT to its national secretariat this Thursday, the 9th, where Secretary-General Mário Mourão will be mandated to approve or reject the deal. If rejected, the Government's document will proceed to a parliamentary vote, which Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has indicated should happen 'soon'. Rejection appears likely, as Labour Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Carvalho has insisted on several 'red lines' from the initial July 2025 negotiations, despite 60 points of consensus and over 20 concessions by the Executive. Key sticking points include the individual 'time bank' system, the possibility of non-reinstatement for unfair dismissal (provided compensation is paid), and the use of outsourcing after layoffs. The CGTP remains excluded from these negotiations, with Secretary-General Tiago Rodrigues accusing the Government of an 'anti-democratic and anti-constitutional' stance.