Latest news and stories about labour law in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
Portugal faces a nationwide general strike as labour unions protest against proposed legislative changes affecting public services and transport sectors.
A neo-Nazi group plotting an attack on the Prime Minister was found with a hit list of 120 individuals, while the government faces legislative setbacks with a rejected labour reform and shifting trends in the Portuguese property market.
An analytical critique of Portugal's political landscape, arguing that the nation's stagnation stems from political cowardice rather than a lack of understanding, while noting the increasing influence of Chega on the AD coalition.
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.
Health workers have launched a two-day strike to advocate for improved wages and working conditions, featuring a planned demonstration in Lisbon.
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.
President of the Republic António José Seguro is set to hold individual meetings with social partners in Belém this Wednesday to discuss the government's contentious labour legislation proposal.
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.
Joom CEO Ilya Shirokov warns that proposed changes to Portugal's nationality law create market uncertainty and hinder the recruitment of international talent, noting that the company has already lost potential candidates to Germany.
Cultural mediators from the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (AIMA) are striking at the Government headquarters in Lisbon to demand permanent employment status and salary equality, protesting the ministry's reliance on precarious labor.
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.
Lisbon firefighters' union says the Regimento de Sapadores Bombeiros de Lisboa (RSBL) is in 'utter disarray', citing delays in promotions, organisational failures and that more than 10% of operational personnel lack proper uniforms. Staff are considering issuing a pre-strike notice as a warning that industrial action could follow if complaints over safety, logistics and career progression are not resolved. The union warns these problems undermine emergency response and public safety and is calling for urgent management and municipal intervention.
The Supreme Administrative Court (STA) ruled in favour of two scientists in appeals against the University of Lisbon, ordering the university to open public competitions for career entry once the maximum term of their fixed‑term contracts expired. Two separate rulings — including one dated 8 January concerning the Instituto Superior de Agronomia (ISA) — require competitions to be launched within 30 days at ISA and at the Faculty of Letters, overturning earlier judgments. The decisions set a legal precedent on academic precarity and fixed‑term employment, with potential implications for higher education labour practices and reform of recruitment procedures in Portuguese universities.
Workers' committee denounces “physical and psychological exhaustion” caused by “improvised conditions” and delays in negotiations for the company agreement
Two days before the theatre's reopening following renovation works, the staff are reporting an unsustainable situation of physical and psychological exhaustion and are demanding action from the administration and the government.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 3:00 PM at the headquarters of the Economic and Social Council.
The Government meets this Wednesday with social partners in the Social Concertation forum to present information on the 2027 State Budget proposal and discuss the transposition of the pay transparency directive. The meeting agenda includes a presentation on the 2027 State Budget (OE2027) by the Minister of State and Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, and the transposition of the pay transparency directive, among other topics. The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Economic and Social Council headquarters in Lisbon, chaired by the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security. Government representatives include Rosário Palma Ramalho, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries José Manuel Fernandes, Secretary of State for Labour Adriano Rafael Moreira, and Secretary of State for the Economy João Rui Ferreira. Business confederations have urged the Government to include measures in the OE2027 proposal to reduce the tax burden on companies and promote housing for workers, while trade unions have advocated for income tax relief. The minimum wage update is also expected to be discussed, with unions pushing for a higher increase than the current agreement, while the Government maintains it will not unilaterally alter the existing target of 1,020 euros by 2028. Additionally, the Government is working on the transposition of the EU pay transparency directive, following an infringement procedure opened by the European Commission against Portugal for missing the June deadline.
The headquarters of the Economic and Social Council in Lisbon hosts a new meeting of the Social Concertation, which will focus on the 2027 State Budget and the transposition of the directive on pay transparency.
The secretary-general of the Federation of Public Administration Unions (Fesap) argues that the base salary in the public sector must continue to increase, suggesting it should exceed 1,030 euros next year. José Abraão notes that the current multi-year agreement is insufficient given rising inflation in food, fuel, and housing, and warns that the union will push for higher increases than those currently planned to protect workers' purchasing power.
