António José Seguro has intervened to restart labour reform negotiations after business confederations had previously declared them over. Following his appeal for a balanced consensus, both business leaders and the UGT union have expressed renewed willingness to return to the negotiating table. The government is reportedly considering concessions on controversial points, such as the duration of fixed-term contracts, in an effort to align with European standards and improve labour market flexibility.
Seguro revives negotiations for a labour agreement
Tuesday, 10 March 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Socialist Party (PS)
- Leader: José Luís Carneiro (since June 2025)
- Ideology: Center-left, Social democracy, pro-Europeanism
Portugal's other traditional major party suffered a historic collapse in the 2025 election, dropping from 78 to 58 seats and falling to third place for the first time in democratic history. The party was led by Pedro Nuno Santos from January 2024 until his resignation following the May 2025 defeat. José Luís Carneiro, a 53-year-old former Minister of Internal Administration known for his moderate positioning within the party, was elected unopposed as the new Secretary-General with 95% of votes in June 2025. The Socialist Party governed Portugal from 2015 to 2024, including an absolute majority from 2022 to 2024 under António Costa, who resigned in November 2023 amid a corruption investigation. The PS previously led the innovative "Geringonça" (contraption) coalition government from 2015-2019, a minority government supported by the Left Bloc and Portuguese Communist Party that reversed austerity measures and presided over economic recovery.
José Pedro Aguiar‑Branco is the President of the Assembly of the Republic, who in this story requested that the Committee on Constitutional Affairs examine the constitutional conformity of government measures in a proposed bill. He is using his parliamentary role to trigger a formal review of changes affecting confession rules and the rights of the defence.
The General Union of Workers (UGT – União Geral de Trabalhadores) is one of Portugal’s two main national trade union confederations. Founded in Lisbon on 28 October 1978, it was created as a social‑democratic alternative to the more communist‑aligned CGTP after the 1974 Revolution, grouping unions close to the Socialist Party and moderate centre‑right currents.
UGT represents around 400,000 workers and is affiliated to the European Trade Union Confederation and International Trade Union Confederation, giving Portuguese labour a voice at EU and global level. Its principles stress union independence from the state, employers, churches and parties, internal democracy and active worker participation.
Historically, UGT’s hallmark has been “propositive” social dialogue: it is usually more willing than CGTP to sign tripartite agreements on wages, labour law and social policy with governments and employers, shaping minimum wage increases, working‑time rules and social protection reforms. This makes UGT a key centrist actor in Portugal’s industrial relations, often mediating between left and right while defending collective bargaining and incremental improvements to labour rights.
AI Summary AvailableGovernment and unions open to resuming stalled labour negotiationsRead the synthesized summary with context and explainers
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Other news coverage of this topic
- Seguro says he wants to look at the country as a whole and calls for an agreement on labour reform1:30am, 11 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Social partners and Government resume labour law negotiations1:30am, 11 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Negotiations at a snail's pace12:30am, 11 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- Carneiro: whoever wants to talk to the UGT should ask them directly11:46pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Observador
- UGT: Prime Minister must say if the Government 'stays or goes'11:39pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Observador
- José Luís Carneiro says those who want to dialogue with the UGT should ask directly11:36pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
- José Luís Carneiro says that those who want to dialogue with the UGT should ask them directly11:02pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour law: the agreement the Government needs11:02pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- "It is up to the UGT to yield": Hugo Soares calls for "goodwill and an open mind" regarding the labour package10:48pm, 10 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- UGT remains available to negotiate labour law but: employers "are in a great hurry"10:45pm, 10 Mar 2026 • CNN Portugal
- Labour package. Mário Mourão says that if "there is any intransigence" it is not on the part of the UGT10:25pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour law. Mário Mourão says that if "there is any intransigence" it is not on the part of the UGT10:25pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- PS asks the Government to suspend the State's exit from the António Sérgio Cooperative9:49pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- Confederations willing to continue labour law negotiations, UGT says it never left9:26pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Expresso
- Time bank, outsourcing, and fixed-term contracts hinder UGT in labour agreement8:58pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- President called for a "balanced agreement". Partners available to resume negotiations8:58pm, 10 Mar 2026 • RTP Notícias
- Labour laws: will Seguro's appeal fall on deaf ears?8:26pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Público
- Confederations available to return to labour law negotiations, UGT says it never left8:03pm, 10 Mar 2026 • Correio da Manhã
