Latest news and stories about labour law in legal in Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
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.
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.
Prison guards complain about the lack of safety and working conditions, as well as the absence of signal jammers. Vale de Judeus was the site of the escape of five inmates in September 2024.
The strike will remain total, with minimum services decreed. Inmates without activities will spend 22 hours a day in their cells.
TVDE drivers and operators are protesting this Wednesday, the 29th, in Lisbon, demanding urgent fare increases, the exclusion of taxis from the TVDE regulatory framework, and fuel price support. The protest, which involves a gathering at Campo Pequeno followed by visits to the headquarters of Bolt and Uber, coincides with the ongoing review of the sector's legislation. Additionally, a separate group of delivery and ride-hailing workers has announced a 24-hour strike today.
The EGEAC Board of Directors congratulated the “effort of the workers who remained at their posts” during last Friday's general strike. The union criticised the content and the “more or less declared” objectives of the message.
In July 2025, during last year's annual rotation, prosecutors had already carried out two days of national strikes and three days of regional work stoppages against a recruitment process.
Two weeks ago, the trade union centre rejected the previous proposal and requested the continuation of negotiations. Additionally, a new round of negotiations between Lebanon and Israel is taking place today in Washington.
The last entity to be received by António José Seguro was the Confederation of Portuguese Business. Additionally, the Porto Court of Appeal acquitted Sporting Clube de Braga in the context of Operation Ether.
João Vieira Lopes stated that a significant effort was made in these negotiations and that there is consensus on many points.
A collision between two vehicles resulted in three serious injuries. Also in this news bulletin: negotiations on labour reform, the conflict in the Middle East, and a preview of the Sporting vs. Benfica derby.
Upon leaving, André Ventura spoke about the PS's decision to send some of the changes to the nationality law to the Constitutional Court. Also in this edition, thousands of people demonstrate in Lisbon against the labour package.
The secretary-general of the CGTP anticipates that “thousands of workers will be on the streets” for the demonstration taking place this Friday in Lisbon against changes to labour law, and warns that “the greater the scale of the attack, the greater the response will be.” Under the slogan “Down with the Labour Package! Increasing wages, guaranteeing rights, a better life is possible”, ...
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A meeting took place this afternoon at the Ministry of Labour headquarters in Lisbon, attended by Minister Rosário Palma Ramalho, the UGT, and four business confederations. The CGTP was once again excluded.
The meeting between the Minister of Labour, the UGT, and employer associations went well, guarantees Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho in a statement without a Q&A session for journalists.
The Minister met with the UGT and the four business confederations at the Ministry of Labour in Lisbon.
Otis Portugal employees are set to hold a 24-hour national strike on Thursday, April 9, accompanied by a protest at the company's headquarters in Mem Martins, demanding wage increases and the negotiation of their collective bargaining demands. The strike, called by unions affiliated with Fiequimetal/CGTP-IN, follows plenary sessions held across the country. Key demands include a 15% base salary increase with a minimum of 150 euros, retroactive to April 1, 2026, as well as improvements to meal allowances and the introduction of a monthly role-based allowance for electromechanics. The unions rejected the company's 2.5% salary update offer as insufficient, noting that the company reported profits of approximately 22 million euros in Portugal. The unions also accused management of attempting to intimidate workers regarding the right to strike.
The secretary-general of the CGTP accused the Government this Monday of following an unconstitutional strategy in the labour law reform negotiations, as they are not taking place solely within the Social Concertation forum. Tiago Oliveira reiterated his criticism regarding the union federation being excluded from this Tuesday's meeting, stating that the CGTP is a participant and has the right to be involved.
Among the main demands is a 15% increase in the base salary, with a minimum of 150 euros for all workers.
The coordinating body representing the largest police and security service unions has announced a protest outside the Prime Minister's residence in Lisbon on 16 April. The demonstration aims to oppose pension cuts resulting from legislative changes since 2005, which could reduce retirement income from 90% to 60-70% of final salaries. The Permanent Coordinating Commission (CCP), representing PSP, GNR, prison guards, ASAE, and Maritime Police, argues that these cuts penalise those who have dedicated their lives to public service under high-risk conditions. The protest follows the rejection of parliamentary proposals that sought to maintain higher pension levels for security forces.
The protest, which brings together ASAE, PSP, GNE, Maritime Police, and prison guards, aims to contest the “serious error of pension cuts provided for in legislative changes made since 2005.”
PSP, GNR, prison guards, and ASAE unite in a protest in Lisbon. Pensions could fall from 90% to 60-70% of the final salary — cuts reaching up to 30%.
The organisation representing the largest unions and associations of security forces and services will hold a demonstration on 16 April in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Lisbon to protest against pension cuts.
The organisation that brings together the largest unions and associations of the security forces and services will hold a rally on April 16 in front of the Prime Minister’s residence The post Police unions organise national rally against pension cuts appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Gathering in front of the Prime Minister's residence in Lisbon to take place on the 16th
Unions representing the PSP, GNR, Prison Guard, ASAE, and Maritime Police demand changes to the 2005 law.
