Work news in Portugal

Around 9,000 civil servants will be permitted to re-enrol in the civil service pension fund (Caixa Geral de Aposentações or CGA) after the Constitutional Court (Tribunal Constitucional) struck down 2024 restrictions as unconstitutional. The CGA confirmed it will automatically review applications previously rejected under the invalidated rule for staff registered before 2005. The government stated it will comply with the ruling, which transfers eligible workers back from the general social security system.

The Common Front (Frente Comum) of public administration unions announced a nationwide strike for 20 November to protest the proposed 2027 State Budget. Union coordinator Sebastião Santana said the stoppage serves as a warning to lawmakers before the final budget vote, arguing that government spending plans fail to address public wages and services. Meanwhile, the government declined to intervene in a separate rail strike scheduled for Friday, stating that negotiations remain the responsibility of state rail operator CP (Comboios de Portugal).

Trade unions have called off partial strikes scheduled for 28 and 30 October on the Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa). The decision followed an order by the Arbitration Court (Tribunal Arbitral) of the Economic and Social Council (Conselho Económico e Social), which mandated minimum services guaranteeing 25 percent of train runs during peak morning hours. Union representatives said that complying with the order would compromise safety by deploying unqualified personnel, opting instead to cancel the industrial action.

A systematic review published in the journal Acta Médica Portuguesa found that burnout may affect up to 75 percent of resident doctors (médicos internos) in the country. The authors noted that chronic occupational stress compromises mental health, patient care standards, and clinical safety in public hospitals. The research urges health authorities to implement national psychological support programs and working-hour protections across medical residency programs.

Trade unions in Portugal and Spain have opened talks regarding a coordinated general strike across the Iberian Peninsula over housing costs and wages, Spanish labor leaders announced on Thursday. Unai Sordo, secretary-general of Spain's Comisiones Obreras, revealed discussions with Portuguese counterparts to align actions with a planned Spanish walkout on November 11. Portuguese union confederation General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) noted that while all forms of protest remain possible, calling a general strike requires thorough preparation.

Nearly 76% of working-age immigrants born outside Europe who live in Portugal are employed, surpassing the 73.4% rate among native-born residents according to data reported by Público. The employment rate for non-European immigrant women reached 71.3%, matching native Portuguese women and placing Portugal ahead of most European Union member states. However, researchers noted that high employment levels do not guarantee that workers have secured jobs suited to their skills and qualifications.

Public schools and preschools across Portugal face potential closures on Monday due to a 24-hour strike by non-teaching staff. Called by the National Union of Education Professionals (Sindicato Nacional dos Profissionais de Educação or SINAPE), the walkout involves administrative assistants, operational workers, and specialised technicians. Several school administrations have begun alerting parents that classes and cafeteria services could be disrupted.

Public schools and preschools across Portugal may close on Monday due to a 24-hour strike by non-teaching staff. The walkout, called by the National Union of Education Professionals (Sindicato Nacional dos Profissionais de Educação or SINAPE), includes administrative assistants and operational staff. Several schools have already warned parents to anticipate closures or service disruptions.

Parliament voted unanimously to extend fully paid parental leave (licença parental) to six months starting January 1, 2027, provided the time is shared between parents. The legislation, jointly proposed by the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS), guarantees 100% wage replacement for 180 days. It also grants private sector employees with children up to 12 years old the right to request continuous working hours (jornada contínua), allowing a one-hour reduction in the workday with employer agreement.

Labour unions representing Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa) workers issued strike notices for October 28 and 30, planning morning walkouts between 05:00 and 10:00. The industrial action stems from unaddressed disputes over working conditions and staffing at central operational command centers. The transport operator announced it will ask the Arbitration Court (Tribunal Arbitral) to mandate minimum service levels (serviços mínimos) to reduce disruption for morning commuters.

Parliament's Labor Committee unanimously approved a joint legislative proposal from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) to extend parental leave entitlements. The bill also broadens the right to continuous working hours (jornada contínua) to private sector employees with children up to 12 years of age. The measure now advances to a final plenary vote in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República).

Minister of National Defence (Ministro da Defesa Nacional) Nuno Melo announced that the government will replace the entry criteria for the Portuguese Armed Forces (Forças Armadas). The administration plans to overturn changes made under the previous Socialist government that had lowered height requirements and softened health exclusions. Nuno Melo stated the updated rules will better align recruit standards with the operational demands of military missions.

A parliamentary working group approved a joint proposal by the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) to extend 100% paid parental leave up to six months. Lawmakers also unanimously approved continuous working hours (jornada contínua) in the private sector for parents of children under 12. The schedule measure allows employees to leave work earlier by taking a shortened 30-minute lunch break, subject to employer agreement.

Lisbon Metro (Metropolitano de Lisboa) announced all stations will close on Wednesday due to a 24-hour strike called by union organizations representing operations staff. Unions cited ongoing staff shortages, delayed training programs, and excessive reliance on overtime, while accusing management of failing to honor an agreement reached in April. Train service will halt from 5:00 a.m. on Wednesday until 6:30 a.m. on Thursday.

Update: Lisbon Metro Calls Wednesday Strike Disproportionate and Unjustified

Lisbon Metro management issued a statement describing the strike as disproportionate and inappropriate, stating that the full shutdown impacts around 600,000 commuters over demands made by approximately 100 workers. The company added that the union action disregards recent progress achieved during collective bargaining negotiations.

Managers in Portugal declare just 5% more than employees

The Confederation of Portuguese Business (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal or CIP) said planned defence spending could double the sector's workforce from 40,000 to 80,000 jobs over the next decade. CIP called on the government to ensure domestic companies participate in military contracts as Portugal prepares to invest €10 billion in defence. The business confederation estimated that half of the projected positions would require university degrees.

Three Portuguese business schools placed among the world's top 100 programmes in the 2026 Financial Times Executive MBA ranking. Iscte Executive Education reached 55th place globally, rising 26 spots to lead Portugal's business schools. The joint programme from Católica Lisbon School of Business and Economics and Nova School of Business and Economics, alongside Porto Business School, also maintained places on the global list.

Social Democrat Rosa Sousa has been elected president of the General Union of Workers (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT), succeeding Lucinda Dâmaso, who had led the organization since 2013. Sousa secured 413 votes at the confederation's 15th congress in Figueira da Foz, where delegates also re-elected Mário Mourão as secretary-general. The congress noted that UGT currently represents about 430,000 affiliated workers across 50 unions, down by 5,000 members since 2022.

General Workers' Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) Secretary-General Mário Mourão challenged Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to renegotiate national wage targets and raise the national minimum wage (salário mínimo nacional) to €1,000. Speaking at the union's congress, Mourão cautioned that any upcoming changes to labour law must reinforce collective bargaining rules. The government maintained that any wage revisions beyond existing targets require agreement among social partners in tripartite negotiations.

Update: Government Rejects Minimum Wage Increase Beyond €970

Minister of Labour Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho rejected raising the minimum wage above €970 for the time being. Speaking at the UGT congress, she insisted that any modification to the proposed State Budget figure can only occur through a renegotiated tripartite agreement with social partners.

Workplace stress, anxiety, and burnout cost Portuguese businesses up to €13.3 billion annually in lost productivity, according to the Order of Portuguese Psychologists (Ordem dos Psicólogos Portugueses). Lost work time attributed to mental health conditions has quadrupled since 2020, with employees losing an average of 40 days of productivity each year through absenteeism and reduced efficiency. The professional body reported that small and medium-sized enterprises absorb most of the financial impact, while targeted workplace prevention could save employers nearly €4 billion each year.

A strike organized by the Migration Technicians Union (Sindicato dos Técnicos da Migração or STM) disrupted operations at several branches of the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo). Union officials claimed turnout reached roughly 50%, closing branches in Faro and Porto, while the agency reported only 11.31% participation with 94 workers walking out. Employees are striking over unaddressed salary demands and the absence of a dedicated career structure.

A cabin crew strike in Portugal has grounded hundreds of easyJet flights, with the National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) reporting nearly 370 cancellations and an impact near 90%. EasyJet disputed those figures, stating it cancelled flights in advance and expects to operate 428 out of 442 scheduled services during the stoppage. The union warned that disruptions will continue through Friday.

The Migration Technicians Union (Sindicato dos Técnicos das Migrações or STM) called a 24-hour national strike covering all staff at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) for Tuesday. Workers are demanding a dedicated technical career structure, salary supplements comparable to police forces, and permanent contracts for cultural mediators. The union also criticized leadership instability and a lack of transparency regarding the status of AIMA president Pedro Portugal Gaspar.

A strike by EasyJet cabin crew has resulted in the cancellation of approximately 90% of the airline's flights in Portugal. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) reports total participation in the walkout, which is scheduled to continue until Tuesday. The union is demanding improvements to roster stability, seniority-based pay progression, and company agreement negotiations.

A strike organized by three unions under the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) caused significant disruptions to schools and health services across the country. While unions claim participation rates between 60% and 90%, the government reported that only 12% of public sector workers joined the walkout. The protest comes as unions demand salary increases ahead of the 2027 State Budget presentation.

A strike by EasyJet cabin crew has led to the cancellation of approximately 80% of the airline's scheduled flights. The National Union of Civil Aviation Flight Personnel (Sindicato Nacional do Pessoal de Voo da Aviação Civil or SNPVAC) reports that 443 flights were canceled, while accusing the company of failing to comply with labor laws regarding wages and scheduling stability.

Health Minister Ana Paula Martins met with the Association of Service Provider Doctors (Associação de Médicos Prestadores de Serviços or AMPS) to discuss the integration of non-specialist doctors into the SNS. While the government promised to publish an ordinance this month defining new fees, no agreement on specific hourly rates was reached during the three-hour meeting.

The General Workers' Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) has officially approved its policy goals for 2026-2027, which include a demand for the national minimum wage to surpass 1,000 euros by January 2027. This target aims to exceed the 970-euro threshold previously established in the current tripartite agreement between the government, employers, and unions.

Portugal missed the June 7 deadline to transpose new European salary transparency rules, but the government is preparing a proposal for Parliament. Experts from the training consultancy Cegoc warn that these regulations will have a significant cultural impact on how companies manage and disclose wages.

A 25-year-old worker died Saturday after being buried during concrete pouring operations at a construction site on the former Feira Popular grounds in Lisbon. Emergency services, including the Lisbon Sapador Fire Regiment (Regimento de Sapadores de Lisboa or RSB), responded to the scene, where the victim was pronounced dead.

The Migration Technicians Union has called for a strike at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) on October 6. Workers are demanding a salary supplement to reflect the specific responsibilities of their roles, citing a lack of response from the government regarding their requests.

Negotiations between the Lusa Board of Directors and labor unions regarding salary increases and contract revisions have ended without a deal. Unions representing journalists and service workers accused the administration of intransigence, stating they will now seek formal conciliation through the Ministry of Labour.

The Union of Migration Technicians is calling for AIMA workers to receive the same salary supplement recently proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs for Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) and National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) officers assigned to border control. The union argues that migration staff deserve equal treatment given their roles in the border control process.

Data from the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho or DGERT) shows that collective redundancies rose 13.4% by August, reaching 407 processes. Despite the increase in company-led dismissals, the total number of workers affected fell by 9.2% compared to the same period last year. The Lisbon and Tagus Valley region currently reports the highest number of these redundancy cases.

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves and police unions have failed to reach an agreement regarding a specific supplement for the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (Unidade Nacional de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or UNEF). The government proposed a 160-euro supplement for airport control staff for 2026, rising to 210 euros in 2027, but negotiations remain stalled. The minister is also reviewing patrol supplements for other police classes.

The General Union of Workers (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) is calling for a minimum wage of 1,000 euros by 2027, while the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) demands a significant 'wage shock'. Employers remain opposed to reopening the existing tripartite agreement, which currently sets the 2027 target at 970 euros. The Minister of Labour stated that while the government is open to dialogue, no immediate changes to the agreement are planned.

The Nurses' Union has demanded urgent solutions for the São João Local Health Unit in Porto, citing a critical shortage of staff in emergency departments. The union is calling for increased staffing levels and the implementation of a risk and hardship allowance for medical professionals.

The General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) has announced a month of mobilization and a major national demonstration for October 17. The union is pushing for a national minimum wage increase to 1,100 euros by 2027 and a general 15% salary hike, arguing that current government targets are insufficient for the cost of living.

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) has announced it will join the Public Security Police (Polícia de Segurança Pública or PSP) in upcoming national protests. The security forces are demanding salary increases and career reviews, citing significant discontent over the government's failure to meet previous promises.

The National Institute of Medical Emergency (Instituto Nacional de Emergência Médica or INEM) paramedics have called off planned strikes for September 14 and 28. Following mediation by Health Minister Ana Paula Martins, the STEPH union agreed to a deal that keeps 56 ambulances dedicated to pre-hospital care, with transfers limited to exceptional circumstances.

Update: INEM strike called off with new resource commitments

As part of the agreement, the government committed to deploying five new medicalized emergency vehicles and pairing ten existing ambulances with additional technical staff. A tender to recruit 200 new emergency technicians is also scheduled to open by the end of the year.

The Union of Pre-Hospital Emergency Technicians (STEPH) is set to meet with the Ministry of Health and the National Institute for Medical Emergency (INEM) this Friday. The parties aim to reach an agreement to cancel strikes currently scheduled for September 14 and 28.

Police unions and the National Association of GNR Officers (ANOG) have issued an ultimatum to the government, demanding a meeting within seven days to address salary parity and career progression. The Police Professionals Union Association (ASPP) has also scheduled nationwide protests, including a public petition and demonstrations, unless a binding commitment to salary increases is secured by early 2027.

Five Portuguese business schools have secured spots in the 2026 Financial Times Masters in Management ranking, with the Nova School of Business and Economics (Nova SBE) reaching second place globally. The Católica-Lisbon SBE, Iscte Business School, and Católica-Porto SBE also improved their positions, while the ISEG Lisbon School of Economics and Management made its debut in the elite list.

Three union structures affiliated with the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) have announced a general strike for October 2. The action aims to demand better pay for approximately 350,000 public administration workers.

Companies reported 375 collective redundancies through July, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year. Data from the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho or DGERT) indicates this is the highest level of workforce reductions since the pandemic year of 2020.

The Portuguese Order of Nurses (Ordem dos Enfermeiros or OE) has called for immediate government action to address the hiring of thousands of new professionals. The association claims that the Executive Directorate of the SNS is failing to approve necessary development plans, leaving many new nurses without placement in the public health system.

Global asset manager BlackRock has appointed João Robalo Martins as the new Head of Business for Portugal. Based in Madrid, Martins assumes the role this Monday, marking the second leadership change for the firm's Portuguese operations in less than a year.

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro announced new school autonomy measures at the PSD Summer University, drawing praise from school principals. However, the announcement faced sharp criticism from opposition leaders, including Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) leader José Luís Carneiro and Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP) Secretary-General Paulo Raimundo, who accused the government of using propaganda to mask underlying issues in the education sector.

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) has notified a farm owner in Bombarral to provide alternative housing for 31 seasonal workers. The workers were found living in an agricultural pavilion with poor conditions during a recent inspection.

Update: GNR fines farm owner for poor worker conditions

Authorities confirmed the farm owner was fined for illegally discharging wastewater into the public drainage system. The GNR ordered the immediate relocation of the 31 foreign workers to suitable housing following the inspection.