The government has submitted a new labour law proposal to the Assembly of the Republic that requires employees to provide a medical declaration every six months to access breastfeeding leave. While officials argue this maintains a favorable regime, the proposal has faced criticism from unions and legal experts who view the requirement as a shift in the paradigm of parental rights.
Government reinstates medical proof for breastfeeding leave
Wednesday, 20 May 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República) is Portugal's unicameral parliament, located in the Palácio de São Bento in Lisbon. It consists of 230 deputies elected by proportional representation for four-year terms.
The Assembly's powers include making and amending laws, approving the state budget, ratifying international treaties, and overseeing the government through debates, hearings, and committees. It can also pass votes of no confidence to bring down a government, as happened in March 2025.
Following the May 2025 elections, the current parliamentary composition is led by the Democratic Alliance (AD) with the largest share of seats, followed by Chega, PS, and smaller parties including the Liberal Initiative, Left Bloc, Livre, and PCP.
7 sources
- Proof for breastfeeding exemption must be presented every six monthspublico.pt ·
- Government defends new breastfeeding rules and guarantees that Portugal maintains “the most favourable regime in Europe”dn.pt ·
- Government says unlimited breastfeeding leave 'does not exist in any European country'expresso.pt ·
- Labour reform: Proposal with 50 revisions submitted to Parliamentrtp.pt ·
- Government insists on requiring a medical certificate every six months for breastfeeding leaveeco.sapo.pt ·
- With this proposal, the Government does not call into question the right to breastfeed. It is merely making an amendmentcnnportugal.iol.pt ·
- Government defends changes to breastfeeding leaveobservador.pt ·
