Latest news and stories about job creation in government in Portugal for expats and residents.
Seguro discusses the necessary improvements for Portugal to become an exceptional place for employment during his visit to Madrid.
President of the Republic António José Seguro stated during his official visit to Madrid that Portugal must improve career progression and salary conditions to become an extraordinary country to work in. While acknowledging Portugal is an excellent place to live, he urged young expatriates to remain engaged with the country's economic development. He also signaled that the government needs to address these labour issues to retain young talent.
António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and the current President of the Portuguese Republic, inaugurated on March 9, 2026 after winning the two-round presidential election in January–February 2026.
Career: He led Socialist Youth (1990–1994), served as MEP (1999–2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001–2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004–2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and a decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025 and won the presidency in February 2026.
Political philosophy: Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, advocating financial responsibility while opposing austerity. As President, he has emphasized institutional trust, efficient governance, and a collaborative relationship with the government while maintaining rigorous constitutional oversight.
Approximately 70% of applications for support measures under the Regressar Programme have been approved, according to official data. The Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional or IEFP) reported that 6,932 applications were submitted in the most recent period ending March 31. Since the programme began in 2019, over 25,000 applications have been processed.
The Regressar Programme (Programa Regressar) is a government initiative designed to support Portuguese emigrants who choose to return to Portugal. It provides financial incentives and tax benefits, such as a 50% reduction in personal income tax (Imposto sobre o Rendimento das Pessoas Singulares or IRS) for a five-year period, to help ease the transition back into the country.
The government and social partners reported progress in negotiations over a new labour package, though a final agreement has not yet been reached. The Business Confederation of Portugal (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal or CIP) and the General Workers' Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) noted increased flexibility, while the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses or CGTP) protested after being excluded from the meeting. Employers are pushing for measures to increase productivity, while the government warns that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed.” Workers and business owners should monitor these negotiations for changes to overtime pay and contract rules.
CIP is the Confederation of Portuguese Business (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal), the main employers’ association that represents companies and sector groups in Portugal. It lobbies government on economic and labour policy and its statements are watched by investors, employers and workers when debates arise over funding rules and labour reforms.
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.
CGTP (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses – Intersindical Nacional) regularly publishes studies and proposals on labor market conditions, wages, working time, and employment rights. These reports are used to support the union confederation's negotiating positions with the government and employers.
CGTP studies typically cover topics such as minimum wage adequacy, working hours reform, collective bargaining trends, social security sustainability, and the impact of proposed labor law changes on workers. The confederation uses this research to advocate for positions in tripartite social dialogue (Concertação Social) alongside the UGT union confederation and employer groups.
These publications are significant because they often shape public debate ahead of labor reforms and can influence the pace and direction of legislative changes.
Comboios de Portugal (CP) has signed an amendment to its contract with Alstom-DST to purchase 36 additional trains for urban services, bringing the total investment to €1.8 billion for nearly 200 new units. Minister of Infrastructure Miguel Pinto Luz described the move as the largest investment in train purchases in the country's history. Travelers should note that the new units are expected to begin arriving in 2029, two years earlier than originally planned.
Miguel Pinto Luz is Portugal's Minister of Infrastructure. On Feb 24, 2026 he told journalists in Viseu that works on the A1 motorway in the Coimbra area would be fully completed and traffic restored to four lanes by the end of that week.
CP (Comboios de Portugal) is Portugal's state-owned railway company, operating passenger services across the country including urban commuter lines in Lisbon and Porto, regional services, inter-city routes, and the high-speed Alfa Pendular connecting Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Lisbon, and Faro.
CP has faced persistent challenges including aging rolling stock, service delays, and infrastructure limitations. The company is undergoing a fleet modernization program, with new trains being delivered to replace decades-old carriages on suburban and regional lines.
Key commuter lines include the Cascais, Sintra, Azambuja, and Sado lines in the Lisbon metropolitan area, and the Aveiro, Braga, Guimarães, and Caíde lines serving Porto. Ticket prices are heavily subsidized, and monthly passes integrated with other public transport are available through the Navegante and Andante systems.
The Institute for Employment and Professional Training (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional or IEFP) approved 390 applications for an extraordinary fund to maintain jobs and support self‑employed workers hit by storm Kristin, allocating just over €11 million. The measure complements parliamentary emergency support for storm‑affected workers and aims to preserve payrolls in damaged businesses. Employers and affected workers should consult IEFP guidance on eligibility and payments.
The Institute of Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP) (Instituto do Emprego e Formação Profissional) runs employment centres, job-placement services and vocational training in Portugal and publishes official unemployment data. IEFP reported a 10.8% drop in registered unemployed in December year‑on‑year and near‑stable figures from November, so job-seeking residents (including expats) should register with IEFP to access unemployment benefits, training and hiring programmes.
Portugal and Spain formalised a joint, equal application to build a European artificial‑intelligence 'gigafactory', pitching an estimated €8 billion of investment and planning infrastructure on both sides of the border — with the Portuguese site expected in Sines. The proposal aims to compete for EU support in a spring selection process that will choose several projects under a public‑private framework. Regional businesses, universities and local planners should monitor the bid for procurement and employment opportunities.
The Minister of Labour will meet UGT and four employer confederations at the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social) at 9:30 on Monday the 23rd to discuss proposed changes to labour law and to review technical talks held under the Social Concertation process. CGTP was not invited to the meeting, according to reporting. Workers, employers and union members should follow the talks for possible changes affecting contracts, collective bargaining and employment rules.
Update: Employers call revision 'balanced', urge dialogue
Armindo Monteiro, president of the Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP), told media the government's draft is “balanced” and does not justify “all this conflict,” calling instead for continued talks between unions and employers and warning that taking the proposal to the Assembly without prior agreement risks politicising the process ahead of elections.
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.
The Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (Ministério do Trabalho, Solidariedade e Segurança Social) is the Portuguese government department responsible for labour policy, social welfare and pensions. It sets and enforces labour rules, negotiates with unions and employers, and is where the meeting on Monday the 23rd at 9:30 AM with UGT and employer confederations will take place, so workers and employers should note any changes discussed there.
CGTP (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses – Intersindical Nacional) regularly publishes studies and proposals on labor market conditions, wages, working time, and employment rights. These reports are used to support the union confederation's negotiating positions with the government and employers.
CGTP studies typically cover topics such as minimum wage adequacy, working hours reform, collective bargaining trends, social security sustainability, and the impact of proposed labor law changes on workers. The confederation uses this research to advocate for positions in tripartite social dialogue (Concertação Social) alongside the UGT union confederation and employer groups.
These publications are significant because they often shape public debate ahead of labor reforms and can influence the pace and direction of legislative changes.
Parental leave (licença parental) in Portugal includes paid leave around childbirth that can be shared between parents plus a separate paternity quota, with eligibility usually tied to social‑security contributions or residency. Payments and administration go through Social Security (Segurança Social), so expat parents should check their contribution record, employment contract and register with Segurança Social to claim benefits and confirm exact leave length and pay rates.
Social Concertation (Concertação Social) is Portugal's tripartite dialogue between the government, trade unions and employer associations to negotiate labour, social and economic policies. Its agreements often shape government proposals but are not binding, so if talks fail the government can still submit the labour-law revision to Parliament and will need to secure votes there, potentially relying on support from opposition parties such as Chega.
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
Armindo Monteiro is the president of CIP - Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (Confederation of Portuguese Business). He said on Monday that the government's proposed labour-law revision is "balanced" and called for dialogue between employers' and workers' representatives, a position that matters because CIP represents major employers and can shape labour negotiations affecting companies and workers in Portugal.
Segurança Social is Portugal's public social security system, responsible for administering pensions, unemployment benefits, sickness pay, parental leave, family allowances, and other social support payments. It is funded through mandatory contributions from employers and employees.
Most services are managed online through Segurança Social Direta (SSD), where users can check contribution records, apply for benefits, submit declarations, and track payments using their NISS (Social Security Identification Number) and Citizen Card credentials.
Key interactions for residents include registering as a contributor (mandatory for all workers), claiming unemployment benefits, applying for parental leave, and accessing the minimum income scheme (Rendimento Social de Inserção). Self-employed workers (trabalhadores independentes) must also make quarterly income declarations through the platform.
The Ministry of Labour (Ministério do Trabalho) is the government department responsible for employment policy, labour law, collective bargaining and workplace inspections. It organises talks between employers and unions and can convene negotiations or propose changes to labour rules, so its meetings affect workers and employers directly.
A banked hours scheme (banco de horas) is a flexible working time arrangement under Portuguese labor law that allows employees to accumulate overtime hours and use them later as time off, rather than receiving immediate overtime pay.
Under the Portuguese Labour Code, banked hours can be established through collective agreements or, in some cases, individual agreements. The scheme allows employers to vary working hours based on demand — requiring longer hours during peak periods and compensating with shorter hours or days off later.
Banked hours schemes are a frequent topic in labor reform negotiations, with unions (particularly CGTP) pushing for tighter limits and greater worker protections, while employers argue for more flexibility. Proposed reforms have included extending eligibility to parents of young children and adjusting the cap on banked hours.
The government has received 1,922 requests from companies seeking support to maintain jobs after recent bad weather, the labour minister said, according to RTP. The applications are from firms in affected areas asking for emergency measures to avoid layoffs. Employers and workers in impacted sectors should monitor ministry announcements about eligibility and processing of support requests.
The government launched a multi-phase programme (PTRR will be approved in April) with targets running through 2034, aiming to reform state services, reuse existing schemes and open the door to hiring immigrants, Observador reports. The plan will be implemented in three phases and seeks structural change across public administration. Job-seekers and employers — including those recruiting foreign workers — should watch recruitment rules and later calls for proposals.
The PTRR is Portugal's Transformation, Recovery and Resilience plan, the national programme that channels EU recovery funding (NextGenerationEU) into investments and reforms after the COVID-19 shock. It totals about €16.6 billion in grants plus €2.7 billion in loans (≈€19.3 billion) and runs mainly from 2021–2026, financing projects in green transition, digitalisation and social infrastructure that affect public spending and investment decisions expats may notice in housing, transport and services.
The Public Administration (Administração Pública) is Portugal's central, regional and local government bodies and the public-sector workforce that deliver services like healthcare, education and municipal functions. A pay rise announced on 20 February 2026 raised the state's base public-sector salary to €934.99 with retroactive payments back to January 2026, so employees and those who contract with state bodies should expect updated payrolls and potential budget effects.
Labour Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho said she invited unions and employer associations to working meetings on new labour legislation but that the CGTP did not want to negotiate and effectively self‑excluded, while the CGTP denies this and presented its own measures. The row follows a recent history of broad union action, including a general strike involving rival unions. Workers and employers should watch the talks: any exclusion or breakdown could shape the final labour rules and the timing of reforms.
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.
A banked hours scheme (banco de horas) is a flexible working time arrangement under Portuguese labor law that allows employees to accumulate overtime hours and use them later as time off, rather than receiving immediate overtime pay.
Under the Portuguese Labour Code, banked hours can be established through collective agreements or, in some cases, individual agreements. The scheme allows employers to vary working hours based on demand — requiring longer hours during peak periods and compensating with shorter hours or days off later.
Banked hours schemes are a frequent topic in labor reform negotiations, with unions (particularly CGTP) pushing for tighter limits and greater worker protections, while employers argue for more flexibility. Proposed reforms have included extending eligibility to parents of young children and adjusting the cap on banked hours.
A general strike is a coordinated, large-scale work stoppage across multiple sectors called by trade unions to press political or labour demands. The December 11, 2025 strike — the first in 13 years — disrupted transport, schools and many public services, and illustrated that strikes can cause major short-term interruptions while employees and public-service rules determine who can legally take part.
The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP – Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses) is Portugal’s largest trade-union confederation, grouping most unions in manufacturing, public services and many other sectors.
Founded clandestinely in 1970 as “Intersindical” under the dictatorship, it emerged publicly after the 1974 Carnation Revolution and was legalised in 1975. It has been central to virtually all major labour struggles since then, from defending collective bargaining and the 40‑hour week to leading general strikes against austerity and labour‑law rollbacks.
CGTP is historically close to the Portuguese Communist Party and has a class‑struggle, anti‑neoliberal profile, strongly critical of EU and government policies seen as undermining workers’ rights. It favours grassroots mobilisation and strikes over compromise, often refusing national social‑pact deals that the more centrist UGT is willing to sign.
In today’s Portugal, CGTP remains a key actor in wage bargaining, labour‑law debates and national protests; together with UGT it called the first joint general strike in years in December 2025, signalling its continuing capacity to organise mass action.
