Latest news and stories about expat rights in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
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 European Parliament is the directly elected legislative body of the European Union, with 720 members (MEPs) elected every five years by citizens of all 27 member states. Portugal elects 21 MEPs through proportional representation.
The Parliament co-legislates with the Council of the EU on most EU law, approves the EU budget, and scrutinizes EU institutions including the European Commission. Its decisions affect Portuguese citizens through EU regulations on trade, agriculture, environmental standards, consumer protection, digital markets, and more.
Portuguese MEPs sit in European political groups aligned with their domestic parties — for example, PS MEPs in the Socialists & Democrats (S&D), PSD/CDS in the European People's Party (EPP), and Chega in the Patriots for Europe group. Key committees where Portuguese interests feature prominently include fisheries, cohesion policy, and economic affairs.
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.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
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.
Temporary residence is a limited residence permit that allows non‑EU nationals to live in Portugal for a set period (commonly one year, renewable) for study, work or other reasons. The Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) launching an online form means eligible students who also work can apply or regularise their status more easily through AIMA’s process rather than only via consular services.
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.
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.
António José Martins Seguro (born March 11, 1962, in Penamacor) is a lawyer, political scientist, and the current President of the Portuguese Republic, inaugurated on March 9, 2026 after winning the two-round presidential election in January–February 2026.
Career: He led Socialist Youth (1990–1994), served as MEP (1999–2001), was Minister Adjunct to PM António Guterres (2001–2002), and led the PS parliamentary group (2004–2005). Elected PS Secretary-General in 2011 with 68%, he led the opposition during Portugal's bailout era. In 2014, António Costa defeated him in party primaries by a landslide, prompting Seguro's resignation and a decade-long retreat from politics. He returned in 2025, launching the movement UPortugal and announcing his presidential candidacy in June. He received official PS backing in October 2025 and won the presidency in February 2026.
Political philosophy: Seguro positions himself as representing a "modern and moderate" left, advocating financial responsibility while opposing austerity. As President, he has emphasized institutional trust, efficient governance, and a collaborative relationship with the government while maintaining rigorous constitutional oversight.
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 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.
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.
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.
The labour reform (reforma laboral) refers to a package of proposed changes to Portugal's labour laws aimed at altering hiring rules, wages and job protections; the recent proposal mentioned in the story failed to pass. That outcome matters to workers and employers because successful reforms could have changed pay conditions and youth employment prospects, while failure leaves the current rules in place.
Rosário Maria Ribeiro da Costa Palma Ramalho is a distinguished labor law academic who was appointed Minister of Labour in the XXV Constitutional Government under Luís Montenegro. She is one of Portugal's leading experts on employment law, having authored major textbooks and legal commentaries on the Portuguese Labour Code.
As minister, she leads negotiations with trade unions (CGTP, UGT) and employer confederations on labor reform, including changes to dismissal rules, working time flexibility, and collective bargaining. Her academic background gives her unusual technical authority in a portfolio that is typically politically charged.
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.
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.
CIP is the Confederation of Portuguese Business (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal), the main employers’ association that represents companies and sector groups in Portugal. It lobbies government on economic and labour policy and its statements are watched by investors, employers and workers when debates arise over funding rules and labour reforms.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Commission for Equality between Women and Men (Comissão para a Igualdade entre Mulheres e Homens) is a public body that monitors gender equality, investigates discrimination and advises government and institutions in Portugal. It produces studies and campaigns (for example around Equality Week and International Women’s Day) that influence workplace rules and inform workers and employers about issues like long or deregulated working hours.
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.
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.
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.
Rosário Maria Ribeiro da Costa Palma Ramalho is a distinguished labor law academic who was appointed Minister of Labour in the XXV Constitutional Government under Luís Montenegro. She is one of Portugal's leading experts on employment law, having authored major textbooks and legal commentaries on the Portuguese Labour Code.
As minister, she leads negotiations with trade unions (CGTP, UGT) and employer confederations on labor reform, including changes to dismissal rules, working time flexibility, and collective bargaining. Her academic background gives her unusual technical authority in a portfolio that is typically politically charged.
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.
A general strike is a coordinated, large-scale work stoppage across multiple sectors called by trade unions to press political or labour demands. The December 11, 2025 strike — the first in 13 years — disrupted transport, schools and many public services, and illustrated that strikes can cause major short-term interruptions while employees and public-service rules determine who can legally take part.
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.
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.
Fenprof is the National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores), the main public‑school teachers' union in Portugal that represents teachers in pay, working conditions and education reforms. Its criticism matters because Fenprof can organize strikes and mobilise teachers, which directly affects school operations and the implementation of government changes — something families and expat educators should monitor.
A fixed-term contract is an employment agreement that ends on a specific date or when a defined task is finished, rather than continuing indefinitely. EU rules (notably Directive 1999/70/EC) aim to prevent long-term use of successive fixed-term contracts without objective reasons, so teachers kept on fixed-term contracts for many years — like the 15 years mentioned by the National Federation of Teachers (Federação Nacional dos Professores or Fenprof) — may have legal grounds to challenge that practice. For expat teachers, fixed-term work means less job security and usual benefits may be limited, so check contract length, renewal terms and consider union or legal advice if you suspect abuse.
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.”
The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP or Partido Comunista Português) is a Marxist‑Leninist party founded in 1921 out of the revolutionary trade‑union and anarcho‑syndicalist movement, becoming the Portuguese section of the Comintern in 1923. Banned after the 1926 coup, it went underground and became a central force of resistance to the Estado Novo dictatorship, organizing clandestine unions, anti‑fascist struggle and supporting the colonial liberation movements. After the 1974 Carnation Revolution, the PCP was pivotal in land reform, nationalisations and embedding social rights in the 1976 Constitution, especially in the Alentejo and Setúbal regions where it has long been very strong.
Today the PCP is a smaller but still influential party rooted in the CGTP trade‑union confederation and local government, holding a handful of Assembly seats and one MEP in the Left group. It advocates a “patriotic and left‑wing alternative”: defence of workers’ rights, public services and national sovereignty, strong criticism of EU and NATO constraints, and support for socialist countries and anti‑imperialist causes.
A general strike is a coordinated, large-scale work stoppage across multiple sectors called by trade unions to press political or labour demands. The December 11, 2025 strike — the first in 13 years — disrupted transport, schools and many public services, and illustrated that strikes can cause major short-term interruptions while employees and public-service rules determine who can legally take part.
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.
Layoff simplificado is a temporary labour scheme that allows employers to suspend contracts or reduce hours while workers receive state-supported pay. Recent reporting (4 Feb 2026) says this simplified layoff can secure 100% of gross salary up to a limit of €2,760, so employees affected should check official rules on eligibility and duration.
Chega ("Enough") is a Portuguese far-right populist party founded in 2019 by André Ventura. It positions itself as an anti-establishment movement against what it calls a "rotten and corrupt system" of PS-PSD dominance. The party surged from 1.3% in 2019 to 22.8% in May 2025, becoming parliament's second-largest force with 60 seats. Chega's core platform emphasizes strict immigration control—ending automatic CPLP residency, deporting non-independent immigrants, implementing job-market quotas, and requiring five-year social security contributions before benefit access. It advocates radical constitutional reform, including reducing parliament to 100 members, abolishing the prime minister position for a presidential system, and dismantling public healthcare. Law-and-order policies include life imprisonment and chemical castration proposals.
The party is defined by inflammatory anti-Romani rhetoric, with Ventura convicted multiple times for discrimination. Chega maintains international alignments with European far-right figures including Marine Le Pen, Santiago Abascal, and Matteo Salvini. Mainstream Portuguese parties, including Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's government, have imposed a cordon sanitaire, refusing coalition with Chega despite its parliamentary strength.
LIVRE (meaning "Free") is a green left-wing party founded in 2014 by historian and former MEP Rui Tavares. The party struggled for years before finally electing Tavares as its first MP in 2022, then grew to 4 seats in 2024 and 6 seats in 2025—making it the only progressive party to gain ground in recent elections. LIVRE focuses on environmental protection, human rights, and progressive social policies while maintaining a pro-European stance.
The Portuguese Communist Party (PCP or Partido Comunista Português) is a Marxist‑Leninist party founded in 1921 out of the revolutionary trade‑union and anarcho‑syndicalist movement, becoming the Portuguese section of the Comintern in 1923. Banned after the 1926 coup, it went underground and became a central force of resistance to the Estado Novo dictatorship, organizing clandestine unions, anti‑fascist struggle and supporting the colonial liberation movements. After the 1974 Carnation Revolution, the PCP was pivotal in land reform, nationalisations and embedding social rights in the 1976 Constitution, especially in the Alentejo and Setúbal regions where it has long been very strong.
Today the PCP is a smaller but still influential party rooted in the CGTP trade‑union confederation and local government, holding a handful of Assembly seats and one MEP in the Left group. It advocates a “patriotic and left‑wing alternative”: defence of workers’ rights, public services and national sovereignty, strong criticism of EU and NATO constraints, and support for socialist countries and anti‑imperialist causes.
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.
Rosário Maria Ribeiro da Costa Palma Ramalho is a distinguished labor law academic who was appointed Minister of Labour in the XXV Constitutional Government under Luís Montenegro. She is one of Portugal's leading experts on employment law, having authored major textbooks and legal commentaries on the Portuguese Labour Code.
As minister, she leads negotiations with trade unions (CGTP, UGT) and employer confederations on labor reform, including changes to dismissal rules, working time flexibility, and collective bargaining. Her academic background gives her unusual technical authority in a portfolio that is typically politically charged.
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.
