Latest news and stories about labour reform in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
Alexandre Poço supports Luís Montenegro's appeal to the UGT to finalise labour reform. The vice-president of the PSD parliamentary group also accuses Chega of aligning with the CGTP in criticising the agreement.
Mário Mourão, from the UGT, denies a breakdown and guarantees to RTP that he will continue in the labour reform negotiations. The union leader also recalled the meeting with Luís Montenegro to discuss the future of the sector.
Portugal's UGT trade union is preparing a counterproposal to the government's labour package. Portuguese film director João Canijo has died.
The CGTP will only be satisfied with the complete withdrawal of the labour package, but the Government refuses to yield. After a meeting with Montenegro, Tiago Oliveira said that “the struggle will continue” in all forms, including strike action.
The CGTP's secretary-general said today that 'it is not the Government's aim to withdraw' the amendments to the labour law from discussion and indicated that the trade union centre will convene its national council to discuss new forms of action.
Since the draft bill was presented on 24 July, the CGTP has held several protest actions to demand the withdrawal of the proposal.
A delegation from the CGTP's executive committee delivered a petition with more than 190,000 signatures on Tuesday to the Prime Minister's official residence at São Bento to 'defeat this labour package'. 'The Government has already had every opportunity to open its eyes,' said the CGTP general secretary in remarks to journalists in Lisbon, after the ...
In response to statements by the Minister of Labour, the PCP's secretary-general said one must 'have a lot of nerve' and accused the Government of having withdrawn from the solutions for the labour reform.
The trade union centre has a demonstration scheduled for this afternoon.
The Minister of Labour said the Government 'will be here to listen'
The Minister of Labour, Rosário Palma Ramalho, said today that the CGTP, which has demonstrations scheduled for this afternoon, 'removed itself' from the negotiations on the labour reform, 'unlike the UGT'. 'The right to protest is a fundamental right and, therefore, any organisation may exercise it, the CGTP included,' Minister Rosário Palma Ramalho stressed in ...
CGTP and UGT carried out a general strike on 11 December against the Government's proposal.
Tiago Oliveira says that Luís Montenegro is 'lying' when he claims the labour law reform paves the way for a €1,600 minimum wage, and hopes the prime minister will clarify this statement at this week’s meeting, at which the CGTP plans to submit thousands of signatures against the proposed changes to labour legislation.
Maria de Fátima Carioca argues that Portugal needs a substantial overhaul of its labour legislation, saying flexibilisation of labour relations is unavoidable but must not undermine social protections. She warns the proposed new law is not a magic wand for boosting wages — structural reform is required alongside measures to safeguard workers. Her remarks come as the Government prepares a wide-ranging review of labour rules and the social safety net.
Mariana Mortágua said it is possible to build a parallel path between a more flexible labour market and “guaranteeing the protection of people”.
Zohran Mamdani was sworn in as New York City council president moments after midnight at the symbolic Old City Hall subway station. The unconventional timing and venue underscore a populist, reformist image and signal a break with ritualised civic spaces. Meanwhile in Portugal, opposition leader Luís Montenegro publicly defended a proposed labour reform as necessary to secure ‘decent wages’, framing it as a balance between worker protections and market flexibility. The two developments illustrate how political actors use symbolism and policy narratives to shape public perceptions: Mamdani’s inauguration emphasises accessibility and grassroots politics, while Montenegro’s defence seeks to pre-empt concerns about economic impact and social equity.
The Prime Minister has defended a government labour reform aimed at guaranteeing ‘decent wages’ by promoting better jobs and stronger pay protections, framing the measure as central to improving employment quality. Separately, António José Seguro urged an urgent restoration of social cohesion in Portugal, stressing that community rebuilding is necessary alongside policy reforms to address economic and social challenges.
An increase of 50 euros in the minimum wage was approved by the Government this Wednesday. Leitão Amaro reminds that the rise is part of the tripartite agreement which includes “mutual conditions”, such as “labour reform”.
Tensions rise at the end of the protest against the labour reform that the government wants to implement. On a day of general strike, a war of numbers: CIP contradicts CGTP.
Many people are in Porto this Thursday to express their rejection of the labour package proposed by the Government.
In this news report, we cover the statements made by the General Secretary of the PCP and the leader of the BE during initiatives held during the strike. We will also go live to São João Hospital and Lisbon Airport.
The impact of the proposed labour changes on the weakening of a system that has, more or less generously, robustly ensured social protection for workers against the eventualities of their life cycle is significant and should not be ignored or removed from the discussion.
Among the more than 100 changes the Government wants to make to labour legislation, there are not only the most critical and media-covered measures — such as the extension of fixed-term contracts and the limitation of dismissal for breastfeeding — but also changes that have received less attention, particularly regarding remote work, ...
Twelve years after the protests against the troika and the legislative changes imposed by the authority, CGTP and UGT unite again in opposition. The general strike against the government's legislative package promises to halt the country this Thursday.
