Latest news and stories about expat rights in work in Lisbon, Lisboa, Portugal for expats and residents.
The Patriarch of Lisbon, Rui Valério, has called for a minimum consensus regarding labour reform, urging political actors to prioritize human dignity in negotiations. Meanwhile, former President of the Assembly of the Republic Eduardo Ferro Rodrigues advised the PS to avoid preliminary negotiations with the government, suggesting the party should wait until the bill reaches Parliament.
Thousands of people marched in Lisbon and Porto on Saturday in protests called by the CGTP trade union against the government’s labour package, known as Trabalho XXI. Demonstrators filled routes in central Lisbon (Cais do Sodré to Rossio), chanted for immediate withdrawal of the proposal and warned the bill could be defeated if pressure continues. The rallies directly target Prime Minister Luís Montenegro’s government and increase the political risk around the bill’s passage. Workers, commuters and anyone with plans in central Lisbon or Porto should expect local disruption and watch union bulletins.
Luís Filipe Montenegro Cardoso de Morais Esteves (born February 16, 1973, in Porto) is a Portuguese lawyer and center‑right politician who has served as Prime Minister of Portugal since April 2, 2024. A long‑time member of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), he is the leading figure of the post‑Troika generation of Portuguese conservatives. Montenegro was elected to the Assembly of the Republic in 2002 for the Aveiro district and remained an MP for 16 years, becoming PSD parliamentary leader from 2011 to 2017 during the bailout and austerity period under Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho. He was a prominent defender of strict austerity measures, arguing in 2014 that “the life of the people is no better, but the life of the country is a lot better,” a phrase that has followed his public image since. After an unsuccessful leadership bid against Rui Rio in 2020, Montenegro won the PSD leadership in 2022. He then forged the centre‑right Democratic Alliance (PSD–CDS‑PP and allies), which won a plurality of seats in the 2024 legislative election. Refusing to partner with the far‑right Chega, which he has called “often xenophobic, racist, populist and excessively demagogic,” he formed a minority government as head of the XXIV Constitutional Government on April 2, 2024. His first government fell in March 2025 after a no‑confidence vote linked to a conflict‑of‑interest affair, but fresh elections saw the Democratic Alliance increase its seat share, allowing Montenegro to return as prime minister leading the XXV Constitutional Government. His importance to Portugal lies in attempting to re‑center the traditional centre‑right after the crisis years, defending liberal‑conservative economics and EU alignment while drawing a sharp line against formal cooperation with the radical right, thus shaping how Portuguese democracy manages its new multi‑party era.
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.
An Trabalho XXI (labour package) is the name given to a set of proposed changes to Portugal's labour laws put forward by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government. Thousands of people, organised by the CGTP union, marched in Lisbon and Porto calling for its withdrawal because they say it would reduce workers' protections; workers and residents should follow the debate since any approved changes could affect contracts, collective bargaining and workplace rules.
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.
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.
Psychologist Juliana Ribeiro de Souza Revoredo is researching the emotional and professional impact on Brazilian lawyers following the sudden termination of the reciprocity agreement between the Brazilian and Portuguese Bar Associations in 2023.
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.
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.
The Portuguese Bar Association (OA) has no plans to resume the reciprocity agreement with the Brazilian Bar Association (OAB), according to its president, João Massano. Instead, the focus is on organizing deontological workshops for Brazilian lawyers living in Portugal to help them better navigate local legal practice, including issues like professional secrecy, conflicts of interest, and social media advertising. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties with Portuguese-speaking countries.
The article discusses the prevalence of workplace bullying in Portugal, highlighting a recent incident at the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (ULSLO) where a manager allegedly attempted to restrain a subordinate with tape. It explores the definitions, types (vertical, horizontal, structural, emotional, and strategic), and legal challenges of proving moral harassment in the workplace, while offering advice on how victims can document incidents and seek support through official channels.
The PCP leader considered that the Prime Minister would do a “great service to the country” if he announced the withdrawal of the reform at the fortnightly debate, which takes place on the eve of the discussion of the labour package.
Portugal’s Labour Minister, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, has downplayed the impact of Wednesday’s general strike, insisting that the “vast majority of Portuguese are working” and that disruption in the The post “Vast majority of Portuguese are working” – Government downplays impact of general strike appeared first on Portugal Resident.
Rosário Palma Ramalho cited four examples, starting by mentioning the increase in initial parental leave shared between father and mother, paid at 100% for the first six months.
A delegation from the CGTP Executive Committee will visit the Ministry of Labour in Lisbon this Monday, May 11, to deliver the notice for a general strike scheduled for June 3 against changes to labour law, after negotiations ended without agreement. The delegation will be led by CGTP Secretary-General Tiago Oliveira. The strike, themed 'Defeat the labour package', follows the government's 'Trabalho XXI' reform proposal, which unions have labelled an attack on workers' rights. The government has since held separate meetings with the UGT and business confederations, excluding the CGTP, which has accused the administration of being undemocratic. Labour Minister Palma Ramalho intends to take the proposal to parliament, despite ongoing opposition.
The CIP (Confederation of Portuguese Business) has announced it will accept UGT proposals regarding outsourcing, the reinstatement of unlawfully dismissed workers, individual time banks, continuous training, and arbitration. CIP president Armindo Monteiro stated that the organisation is willing to align with the union's position to reach a consensus on labour law reforms. While the CIP maintains its stance on the necessity of outsourcing for business efficiency, it is seeking common ground to finalise the agreement before the government's deadline, despite ongoing tensions and the threat of a general strike by the CGTP.
The parliamentary leader of Livre argued that the executive must decide if it wants stability while safeguarding workers' rights.
The Secretary of State for Portuguese Communities attributed the need for immigrants this Thursday to Portugal's “success”, as they perform jobs that nationals “do not want or cannot do”. Emídio Sousa was speaking during the Portugal Global Nation Forum, a strategic platform connecting Portugal, its diaspora, and international markets.
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The national demonstration, organised by the CGTP-IN under the slogan 'Down with the labour package! Increasing wages, guaranteeing rights, a better life is possible', takes place at a time when the Minister of Labour has guaranteed that there are only 'two or three issues' preventing an agreement with social partners and that she will conclude 'this negotiation phase in the coming days'.
The UGT secretary-general announced on Friday that an extraordinary national secretariat meeting will be convened to decide whether to approve changes to labour law, while business confederations have expressed agreement with the latest proposed version. These positions were shared following a meeting with the Minister of Labour in Lisbon. Meanwhile, the CGTP criticised the Government for allegedly negotiating the labour package 'on the sly' and asserted that no process is valid without the trade union federation's agreement. CGTP secretary-general Tiago Oliveira stated that attempting to exclude workers and their representative organisations from the discussion is unacceptable. Minister Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho met with the UGT and four confederations for minor adjustments to the legislation, following claims by the CGTP that they were excluded from earlier discussions.
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”, ...
The Palácio das Laranjeiras is once again the backdrop this Thursday for the labour law reform. After more than 50 meetings at the Ministry of Labour, the negotiation now returns to the Permanent Commission for Social Concertation, which means that the CGTP will also have a voice. The minister in charge has been saying...
André Ventura argued that “the ideal would be for this process to reach a consensual conclusion in social concertation and in parliament.”
The UGT leader was accused of not bringing to a vote by the central union the proposal containing all the progress achieved in the last meeting between the Social Partners. Mário Mourão highlighted the importance of proposals being “written and concrete” rather than just “consensualised”.
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A scientific study on workplace harassment in the Portuguese performing arts sector reveals that bullying and sexual harassment are widespread, often perpetrated by those in leadership or artistic direction roles. The research, conducted under the MUDA project, highlights that victims frequently face humiliation, intimidation, and non-consensual physical contact, with many reporting that precarious employment conditions exacerbate their vulnerability and hinder the reporting of abuse. The report calls for urgent institutional action, including mandatory training, independent reporting channels, and stronger legal protections.
The professionals, who will be gathered at the Government headquarters in Lisbon, accuse the ministry of relying on precarious workers as if they were permanent staff. By early morning, the effects of the strike were already visible.
They claim it increases precariousness, facilitates dismissals without just cause, and limits the right to strike.
The General Inspectorate for Health Activities (IGAS) is to investigate the nationality requirement imposed by the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (ULSLO) in its recruitment processes. The inspector-general, António Carapeto, confirmed the review after reports that the unit was unlawfully requiring Portuguese nationality for private-law contracts, potentially misleading candidates. Legal experts, including Maria Antónia Beleza, argue that the practice is discriminatory and legally incoherent, as it confuses residency and visa requirements with nationality status, potentially deterring qualified applicants.
The General Inspectorate for Health Activities (IGAS) is to investigate the nationality requirement imposed by the Lisbon Western Local Health Unit (ULSLO) in its recruitment processes. The inspector-general, António Carapeto, confirmed the review after reports that the unit was unlawfully requiring Portuguese nationality for private-law contracts, potentially misleading candidates. Legal experts, including Maria Antónia Beleza, argue that the practice is discriminatory and legally incoherent, as it confuses residency and visa requirements with nationality status, potentially deterring qualified applicants.
