The General Workers' Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) has labeled the government's proposed labour reform package a significant setback for workers' rights. The union is submitting its own proposals to Parliament and has engaged in discussions with the Chega party, which holds a decisive vote on the legislation. Minister of Labour Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho stated that the President of the Republic's recent actions effectively empowered the union to avoid signing the government's agreement.
Labour union criticizes government reform package
Tuesday, 19 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
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.
- Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (2024–present)
- Party: Independent (appointed by AD government)
- Background: Professor of Labour Law, University of Lisbon
Rosário Maria Ribeiro da Costa Palma Ramalho is a distinguished labor law academic who was appointed Minister of Labour in the XXV Constitutional Government under Luís Montenegro. She is one of Portugal's leading experts on employment law, having authored major textbooks and legal commentaries on the Portuguese Labour Code.
As minister, she leads negotiations with trade unions (CGTP, UGT) and employer confederations on labor reform, including changes to dismissal rules, working time flexibility, and collective bargaining. Her academic background gives her unusual technical authority in a portfolio that is typically politically charged.
3 sources
- Ventura calls for rapprochement but Chega tears apart labour packageobservador.pt ·
- UGT told Chega that the Government's package is a "complete setback" for labour lawsexpresso.pt ·
- Labour reform. "President of the Republic gave backing to UGT not to sign the agreement," accuses the Minister of Labourrtp.pt ·
