Latest news and stories about social security in work in Portugal for expats and residents.
The parliamentary law, which amends the Government's decree-law so that workers affected by the bad weather receive 100% lay-off pay, will reach Seguro without technical input from the Assembly of the Republic's services.
Miguel Cabrita justified the request for a postponement by stating that the parliamentary group needed to “consider” the amendment proposal from Chega, which was presented “in the middle of the meeting.”
An invitation to discuss the role and current state of trade unions.
Mário Centeno's retirement at 59 with a 10,000 euro monthly pension from the Bank of Portugal has sparked scrutiny over the specific terms of his departure agreement and the calculation of his service years.
António Vieira da Silva, former Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, comments on the changes the Government intends to introduce in the new labour law and the difficulties in negotiating with trade unions.
New meeting ends with only half of the points discussed. A new meeting will be scheduled.
The meeting of the Social Concertation ended without a formal agreement, yet participants expressed optimism regarding future negotiations.
The Minister of Social Security has appointed Isabel Ramos to the Directorate-General for Coordination and Planning (DGCP), which is absorbing the GEP. José Luís Albuquerque, whose term at the head of the GEP was set to run until 2028, and the rest of the team are being replaced as part of the restructuring.
In front of the Ministry of Labour, Tiago Oliveira guaranteed that it is not the CGTP that is sidelining itself, but that it is being excluded from the negotiation process for the labour package.
Report: off-the-books salary payments are widespread in Portugal. Among the cases reported to Expresso, some individuals receive up to two-thirds of their pay illegally. Invented expense allowances, non-existent mileage claims, and cash payments dominate the practice.
The CGTP has already stated that even though it was not invited, it will be present at the meeting with the Minister of Labour “come what may”. Also, the (expected) retirement of Mário Centeno.
The meeting is scheduled for 3:00 PM at the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security (MTSSS) in Lisbon.
Beneficiaries can now instantly view sickness benefit calculations and submit work-related accident forms online for improved accessibility.
The webpage provides a collection of recent news updates related to Portugal and international events involving the country. Key highlights include Portugal's stance on the Middle East conflict, with officials stating the country is not involved in the Iran-Iraq war escalation. Domestic economic topics cover the government's approach to labor reforms, the Banco de Portugal's comments on pension reforms, and the privatization of TAP Airlines, emphasizing that the state will retain control. Additionally, there are human interest stories such as tributes to a Portuguese individual who passed away in Switzerland and local issues like limited access to Caldas de Penacova. Overall, the page offers a broad overview of current political, economic, and social developments concerning Portugal.
The last meeting ended without an agreement and with mutual accusations of intransigence.
Update: Government schedules fresh labour law talks for Monday
Minister of Labour Rosário Palma Ramalho has summoned the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (União Geral de Trabalhadores or UGT) and business leaders to a meeting on Monday, March 16. The government aims to exhaust all possibilities for an agreement rather than prolonging the discussion indefinitely.
Rosário Palma Ramalho is Portugal’s Minister of Labour, responsible for labour policy, workplace regulation and negotiations with trade unions. Her statements today about the CGTP withdrawing from labour reform talks matter because they affect negotiation dynamics and can influence strikes or demonstrations that may disrupt public services and workplaces.
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.
Foreign workers now make up 17.6% of Social Security contributors, a significant rise from 4.5% a decade ago. In December 2025, over 840,000 immigrant professionals contributed, reflecting a 5.4-fold increase since December 2015. Total contributions reached over 4.1 billion euros last year, an 8.5-fold increase from 491 million euros a decade earlier. This data, released by the Ministry of Labour, aims to dispel myths about immigrants and their contributions, with Secretary of State Filipa Lima emphasizing the need for transparency in statistics. The dashboard will provide detailed monthly updates on contributions by nationality and age, highlighting a notable increase in contributions from foreign workers, particularly in agriculture, hospitality, administrative services, and construction.
Support for families affected by the storm can reach up to 1074 euros per person. Applications for this support are made online, with Social Security required to respond within five days. Additionally, companies and self-employed individuals have a 30-day window to request a full exemption from social security contributions. However, it is important to note that a 100% salary guarantee during layoff is not included in this support.
The Government confirmed that workers placed on the simplified lay-off because of Kristin will receive 100% of their normal net pay, capped at three times the national minimum wage (€2,760). The guarantee strengthens immediate income protection for affected employees, though its fiscal and administrative implications will depend on eligibility rules, duration and how costs are shared between employers and public funds.
Following a severe storm, the government has eased its layoff scheme for affected firms: Social Security will cover 80% of salaries, guaranteeing workers their full pay up to €2,760, and shifting a larger share of labour costs and obligations away from employers.
A parliamentary move — despite abstentions from PSD and CDS-PP — brings Portugal closer to lengthening the initial parental leave available to working parents. The new episode of the 'Ao Trabalho!' podcast examines that development alongside other labour‑market highlights, offering concise analysis of labour, social-security and employment-law developments every Thursday.
A citizens' initiative that gathered more than 42,000 signatures has forced Parliament to reopen debate on reforming initial parental leave. The proposal — to extend leave from the current 120/150 days to 180/210 days (effectively six months) at 100% pay regardless of how it is shared between parents — will be reconsidered in the Assembly of the Republic after an earlier attempt was nullified by the dissolution of the Assembly and the fall of the Government in March 2025. An earlier related extension was approved on 27 September 2024, but procedural developments and the renewed petition have brought the issue back onto the legislative agenda.
A rise in the guaranteed national minimum wage to €920 gross per month, together with higher employer Social Security contributions, will raise labour costs by about €866 a year for each worker on the minimum wage. The increase reflects both direct pay and associated employer charges and will squeeze firm margins — particularly in low-margin sectors — with potential knock‑on effects on prices, hiring decisions and informal employment. Policymakers and businesses will need to weigh targeted support, phased implementation or productivity measures to offset the impact on competitiveness and employment.
This analytical piece urges readers to adopt an optimistic stance for the new year and to move past complaints about the recent increase in the retirement age. It explains that demographic shifts and the strain on social security systems underpin the policy change, outlines labour and legal implications for workers — including expatriates — and argues that better communication, phased implementation, retraining and age-friendly workplace measures would protect wellbeing while ensuring fiscal sustainability.
