Work: Expat rights news in Portugal

Parliament's Labor Committee unanimously approved a joint legislative proposal from the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) to extend parental leave entitlements. The bill also broadens the right to continuous working hours (jornada contínua) to private sector employees with children up to 12 years of age. The measure now advances to a final plenary vote in the Assembly of the Republic (Assembleia da República).

A parliamentary working group approved a joint proposal by the Social Democratic Party (Partido Social Democrata or PSD) and the Socialist Party (Partido Socialista or PS) to extend 100% paid parental leave up to six months. Lawmakers also unanimously approved continuous working hours (jornada contínua) in the private sector for parents of children under 12. The schedule measure allows employees to leave work earlier by taking a shortened 30-minute lunch break, subject to employer agreement.

The Migration Technicians Union (Sindicato dos Técnicos das Migrações or STM) called a 24-hour national strike covering all staff at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) for Tuesday. Workers are demanding a dedicated technical career structure, salary supplements comparable to police forces, and permanent contracts for cultural mediators. The union also criticized leadership instability and a lack of transparency regarding the status of AIMA president Pedro Portugal Gaspar.

Minister of Internal Administration Luís Neves and police unions have failed to reach an agreement regarding a specific supplement for the National Unit for Foreigners and Borders (Unidade Nacional de Estrangeiros e Fronteiras or UNEF). The government proposed a 160-euro supplement for airport control staff for 2026, rising to 210 euros in 2027, but negotiations remain stalled. The minister is also reviewing patrol supplements for other police classes.

The National Republican Guard (Guarda Nacional Republicana or GNR) has notified a farm owner in Bombarral to provide alternative housing for 31 seasonal workers. The workers were found living in an agricultural pavilion with poor conditions during a recent inspection.

Update: GNR fines farm owner for poor worker conditions

Authorities confirmed the farm owner was fined for illegally discharging wastewater into the public drainage system. The GNR ordered the immediate relocation of the 31 foreign workers to suitable housing following the inspection.

A new government bill proposes that companies must disclose salary information to candidates by the time a contract is signed. The legislation also allows employees to request information regarding the salaries of colleagues performing the same functions, while introducing protections against workplace retaliation for those exercising these rights.

The Porto Labour Court has declared the dismissal of an employee hired through an international Employer of Record (Employer of Record or EOR) structure to be unlawful. This ruling highlights the legal complexities surrounding this hiring model, which is increasingly used by foreign companies to employ staff in Portugal.

Net migration of foreign nationals in Portugal fell by half in 2025 compared to the previous year, according to data from the BdP. The central bank reports that monthly net entries dropped from 13,200 in 2024 to 6,200 in 2025, driven by a combination of fewer arrivals and an increase in departures. The bank warns that this trend may impact employment growth and labor market availability.

The Ministry of Labour is proposing changes to the breastfeeding leave (dispensa para amamentação) regime, including a requirement for medical certificates every six months. While the government argues this will reduce medical appointments, experts warn that the new rules may increase bureaucratic rigidity for employees.

A report by the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings (Grupo de Peritos sobre a Ação contra o Tráfico de Seres Humanos or GRETA) warns that migrant workers in the agricultural sector are at high risk of exploitation. Between 2021 and 2024, authorities recorded 690 presumed victims, leading experts to call for stronger labor inspections and better victim support.

Portuguese workers are set to participate in a general strike on Wednesday, June 3rd, to protest against the labour law reform proposed by the government of Prime Minister Luís Montenegro. Called by the General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP), the stoppage aims to challenge policies that unions argue increase job insecurity and undermine protections against unfair dismissal.

The European Union is introducing mandatory salary transparency rules starting June 7, requiring companies to provide clearer information on remuneration policies. Member states must incorporate these directives into domestic law to help reduce wage inequalities, though the rules have yet to be transposed into Portuguese legislation.

The Portuguese Parliament is debating a new labour law package following a request from the Communist Party (Partido Comunista Português or PCP). The PCP argues that the government's policies represent an attack on workers' rights and have led to deteriorating living conditions, while the government, represented by Secretary of State for Labour Adriano Rafael Moreira, defends its position.

The Migration Technicians Union (Sindicato dos Técnicos de Migração or STM) has scheduled a four-day strike at the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) for June 1, 2, 3, and 5. Workers cite deteriorating working conditions, lack of human resources, and the absence of a specific career structure as the primary reasons for the industrial action.

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.

The UGT national secretariat unanimously rejected the latest version of the labour legislation revision proposal presented by the Government. We are following all the reactions here.

The European Parliament and member states have reached a provisional agreement to reform unemployment benefit rules for cross-border workers. Under the new policy, the country where an individual works and contributes will be responsible for paying unemployment benefits. This change aims to resolve existing asymmetries that previously benefited certain member states over others.

The expiration of the exceptional validity period for residence permits on April 15, 2026, has left approximately 8,000 immigrant drivers unable to work. Platforms require valid documentation to keep accounts active, and the Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) has failed to meet the 60-day deadline for issuing physical cards. Many affected workers, including a large number of Brazilian nationals, have been waiting months for their definitive permits.

Approximately 8,000 drivers for ride-hailing platforms (Transporte Individual e Remunerado de Passageiros em Veículos Descaracterizados a partir de Plataforma Eletrónica or TVDE) have been blocked from working due to pending residency permit renewals. The Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) has clarified that proof of an ongoing renewal process should be sufficient for drivers to continue their operations.

The ride-hailing platform Bolt has confirmed it will not block immigrant drivers currently undergoing the residency permit renewal process. The company has extended the deadline for drivers to provide updated documentation by 30 days, acknowledging the administrative delays currently affecting many foreign workers in Portugal.

The government has summoned the General Workers' Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) and four business confederations to a meeting this Monday, April 13, to continue negotiations on labour law amendments. This follows the UGT's recent rejection of the government's latest proposal, with President António José Seguro also announcing plans to meet with social partners soon to discuss the reform process.

After 53 meetings, the Government, the four business confederations, and the UGT have finally reached a 'construction level' for the labour law reform proposal, which requires each organisation to consult its internal bodies. This is what the trade union centre led by Mário Mourão will do this Thursday, in a...

Cultural mediators at the Agency for Integration, Migration and Asylum (Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo or AIMA) have scheduled a strike for March 30. The workers are demanding integration into the agency's permanent staff, arguing that they are currently employed under precarious conditions while performing essential roles. Those awaiting residency appointments or integration services should note potential disruptions at AIMA offices on the strike date.

The Ministry of Labour is negotiating with unions and employers over an alternative design for the long‑discussed turnover tax aimed at tackling labour precariousness — a levy that has never been implemented because regulation was never finalised. Officials say talks are exploratory and seek a compromise that reduces insecure contracts without unduly burdening businesses. Employers and workers should monitor negotiations, since any agreed design could affect hiring costs and contract terms.

The CGTP trade union vowed it will keep demanding the withdrawal of the government's draft labour reform (labour package (pacote laboral)), saying the executive “handles democracy very poorly” as fresh negotiations begin. The comment comes ahead of a new round of talks between union leaders and the Government; the dispute could raise the risk of industrial action if no compromise emerges. Workers and employers should watch negotiation outcomes for changes to contracts and workplace rules.

Update: Employers set two-week deadline; minister says talks near end

Employers have signalled the next two weeks as the timeframe to know if there will be an agreement on the labour package, pressing to keep tools such as the individual hours bank. Rosário Palma Ramalho, the Minister of Labour, said discussions are “closer to the end than to the beginning” and reiterated the government may send the proposal to Parliament even without a pact; UGT warned there are still significant unresolved issues.

Negotiations over the government's proposed labour law reform continue amid disagreements on contracts, outsourcing and other measures. UGT presented an extensive counterproposal while the Confederation of Portuguese Business (CIP) offered its own set of suggestions; none have ruled out a deal but differences remain. Workers, employers and those hiring help should follow talks: changes to contracting and outsourcing rules could affect labour costs and hiring practices.

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.

Correio da Manhã reports that a lack of agreement with partners will not halt plans for the new labour law, suggesting lawmakers intend to press ahead despite unresolved negotiations. The article gives little detail on the bill's contents or timetable but frames the process as continuing. Employees and employers should monitor official government and parliamentary communications for exact changes and timelines. What is the labour law? may help readers unfamiliar with the specific reform referenced.

Update: Minister to take labour changes to parliament

Portugal Resident reports the labour minister plans to submit the proposed changes to parliament regardless of the current deadlock in talks with unions and partners, signalling the government intends to press ahead with the bill even without a negotiated agreement.

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.

A study published for Equality Week by the Commission for Equality between Women and Men of the CGTP finds 41% of working women in Portugal do shift, night or weekend work and warns working hours are highly deregulated. The study frames long and irregular hours as a gendered labour issue with implications for work–life balance and equality measures. Workers, employers and those negotiating contracts should note the prevalence of atypical hours in female employment sectors.

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.

Fenprof, the National Federation of Teachers, says some teachers in artistic and vocational education have been kept on fixed‑term contracts (contratos a termo) for up to 15 years, a practice Fenprof warns breaches EU community directives. The federation's secretary‑general raised the issue to highlight long‑term instability in that sector. Teachers working in arts and vocational schools and parents of pupils should be aware this dispute could prompt inspections or legal challenges.

Correio da Manhã and Observador report that supermarket chain Auchan has said it will respect workers' holiday entitlements after the PCP informed the Labour Minister that some Auchan staff joined a general strike over alleged removal of holiday rights. The company statement aims to calm industrial tensions while unions and the PCP press labour authorities. Retail workers and those employed in food distribution should check their contracts and union notices; affected customers may experience local disruption during actions.

Update: Auchan repeats it will respect leave entitlements

Auchan told RTP it respects “all legally stipulated holiday days” and said the extra benefit that grants three additional holiday days to workers is applied with “clarity and transparency.”

Livre, PCP and Bloco de Esquerda (BE) have asked parliament to review the government's decree on the simplified lay-off scheme, demanding that salaries for workers affected by the storm be paid at 100% rather than the two-thirds the decree guarantees, Expresso, ECO and Correio da Manhã report. The Socialist deputies also support 100% pay, leaving Chega as a potential swing vote on any change. If parliament presses for full pay, affected firms and dismissed workers could see higher costs or faster government intervention. Workers in storm-hit areas and employers should monitor parliamentary action for changes to compensation rules.

Update: Left parties file review seeking full lay-off pay

Livre, PCP and BE formally submitted a parliamentary review request to force debate, ECO reports, with the petition signed by the minimum ten deputies needed to trigger consideration. Observador and Correio da Manhã corroborate the submission and say the parties seek 100% salary coverage for storm-affected workers instead of the two-thirds laid out in the government's decree; no date for a parliamentary vote has been set.

Rosário Palma Ramalho has called employers' leaders and trade union representatives to a meeting at the Ministry of Labour (Ministério do Trabalho) on Wednesday to continue technical discussions aimed at changing labour law, Expresso reports. The meeting follows a series of talks intended to find agreement on amendments that could affect working conditions and employer obligations. Employers and workers should watch for outcomes that might affect contracts, collective bargaining and workplace rules.