Latest news and stories about labour law in finance in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Friday's agenda features the parliamentary vote on labour reform, the conclusion of the European Council, new Bank of Portugal debt data, and a high-level debate between Portugal and France on European economic competitiveness.
Key events for Tuesday include a meeting on labour reform between Montenegro and Ventura, critical interest rate decisions from the Bank of Japan and the Fed, Eurostat labour data, the Portugal Capital Markets Day 2026, and updates on the insolvency of Sicasal.
PCP secretary-general Paulo Raimundo has urged Prime Minister Luís Montenegro to withdraw the government's labour package during the upcoming fortnightly debate, arguing it would be a significant service to the country.
The UGT national secretariat convenes to discuss labour law reform, while the Assistant Secretary of State and Energy addresses Parliament on the Middle East conflict's economic impact, alongside the Public Finance Council's latest report.
The Civil Aviation Pilots' Union (SPAC) will not join the general strike on June 3rd against the labour package, the union president said this Monday. Hélder Santinhos also commented on TAP's results, stating that he views the recovery of the accounts “favourably” and admitted concern regarding the labour impact.
Key events for Thursday include INE transport data, Glintt Global's Q1 earnings, the eRadar defence conference at CCB, and Elon Musk's closing arguments in the OpenAI legal case.
Patriarch of Lisbon Rui Valério advocates for a minimum consensus and mutual concessions in labour reform negotiations, while former PS leader Ferro Rodrigues urges his party to avoid preliminary talks and maintain distance from the far-right.
The CGTP trade union confederation is formally submitting a strike notice today for a general strike on June 3rd to protest against proposed labour law reforms following failed negotiations.
The UGT National Secretariat is set to reject the government's latest labour code proposal, citing insufficient progress and constitutional concerns, despite ongoing mediation efforts by President António José Seguro.
Minister of Labour Rosário Palma Ramalho has concluded negotiations on the labour package, confirming that a final version will be sent to the CGTP while the government awaits the UGT's definitive position on the proposed reforms.
Thousands of workers gathered in Lisbon for a CGTP-led demonstration to protest against the government's proposed labour package, citing concerns over wage stagnation, reduced rights, and increased job precariousness.
The Portuguese government, UGT, and four business confederations are meeting to negotiate a decisive agreement on new labour law reforms.
The Minister of Labour reconvenes with the UGT and business confederations to resume labour law reform negotiations following an appeal from the President of the Republic to resolve the recent impasse.
More than a hundred people demonstrated in downtown Lisbon, organized by CGTP, to demand gender equality and oppose a labor package perceived to worsen women's working conditions. The protest featured slogans advocating for equal pay and rights, with participants highlighting ongoing disparities in the workplace. CGTP leaders emphasized the need for legislative changes to uphold constitutional rights for women, especially in light of the upcoming International Women's Day.
Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in Lisbon and Porto to protest against the government's proposed changes to the labour law, known as the 'Work XXI' reform. Led by the CGTP union, the protests highlighted concerns that the reforms would negatively impact workers' rights. CGTP's Secretary-General, Tiago Oliveira, called for the government to withdraw the labour package, emphasizing its detrimental effects on the workforce.
The Secretary-General of the PS accuses the Government of failing to keep its promise to increase the competitiveness of the Portuguese economy. José Luís Carneiro stated this morning that this will be one of the topics debated in Parliament this afternoon.
Statement made before the meeting with Ventura at São Bento. Chega wants a reduction in the retirement age to approve the Government's reform. Also, the PCP's accusations against the Executive regarding storm relief.
The Prime Minister and the president of Chega met this afternoon to discuss labour law reform. André Ventura wants the PSU to proceed to the committee stage without a general vote.
A summary of the main news stories for Tuesday, covering sectors ranging from tourism to financial market performance.
Former Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho classified Chega's proposal to lower the retirement age as absurd and unrealistic this Tuesday, and without closing doors on his future, he once again considered a return to political life unlikely, noting an excess of populism. According to reports made to Lusa regarding a closed-door intervention...
The former prime minister says that his return to party politics would be a sign that others have failed: “If they are competent and handle the matter, no one will be worried about either Moedas or Passos Coelho”
Francisco Calheiros stated he is available to return to the labour negotiation table “provided there is something concrete” and that “the UGT says what it is willing to do.”
Former Governor of the Bank of Portugal Mário Centeno said today that the Portuguese labour market 'does not have a flexibility deficit', highlighting that few countries in the world have levels of labour flexibility comparable to Portugal's.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro returns to parliament this Wednesday for a fortnightly debate where the opposition is expected to raise issues including labour law reform, the international economic climate, inflation, and the government's relationship with journalists. The debate will cover topics such as the PS party's concerns over a government contract with NewsWhip, which they fear may be used to monitor journalists, as well as ongoing disputes regarding the cost of living and the government's progress on labour legislation, which is nearing a final decision despite resistance from some social partners.
The president of the Liberal Initiative (IL), Mariana Leitão, urged the government to focus its efforts on governing rather than on communication tools like NewsWhip. During a visit to Sagalexpo, she criticised the government's heavy investment in propaganda and called for structural economic reforms, including tax cuts, while also addressing the stalled labour law revision and the ongoing challenges in the healthcare sector.
Armindo Monteiro says that 'as soon as this negotiation process ends', the CIP will propose 'a plan' for income, with the aim of increasing wages and growing the economy.
The president of the CIP - Confederation of Portuguese Business said today that he hopes to 'conclude quickly' the negotiation process regarding changes to labour law and considered that the country is 'a little bit tired of this negotiation'.
The National Union of Civil Aviation Workers (SINTAC) has reached an agreement with the management of OGMA – Indústria Aeronáutica de Portugal to update the salary scale, providing for increases of at least 60 euros starting from July 1st. In a statement, SINTAC adds that the agreement to update the salary scale...
The war in the Middle East and the resulting energy crisis are topics that will be at the centre of the fortnightly debate. It is expected that changes to labour law will also be addressed by the opposition in the Assembly of the Republic.
The webpage highlights Portugal's celebrations of the Day of Portugal, with commemorations taking place in the Azores, specifically in Terceira, and in Luxembourg. It also reports on political and economic news, including a nationwide protest called by CGTP scheduled for April 17 in Lisbon, and discussions on taxes and military bases. Additionally, there are updates on Portugal's sports achievements, such as Sporting Braga's victory in the Europa League and FC Porto's upcoming matches. The page covers various other topics, including regional issues like the alleged favoritism towards Ryanair by the Azores government and a significant fraud involving luxury properties. Overall, the content provides a broad overview of current events and celebrations related to Portugal.
