Labor Minister Slams Union Strike Announcement as 'Extemporaneous' Amid Reform Negotiations

In an interview with RTP News this Monday, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho insisted that this is the right time for labor reform and that the legislation could improve "rights and guarantees for workers".

"Trade union confederations don't vocalize this part, but in fact there are a set of workers' rights that are reinforced in this reform," stated the minister, giving parental leave as an example, but also for young people and students.

Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho considered that there was an "epidermal" reaction after the reform announcement. "Labor matters are always matters of great passion," she noted.

The minister also considered that UGT "should differentiate itself from CGTP" because the latter made it clear from the start "that it did not want to negotiate."

Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho criticized UGT's stance but said she believes it will still be possible to reach an agreement with social partners.

"From UGT's side, I consider it extemporaneous to make this announcement [of a general strike] now because we are sitting at the table negotiating," she noted.

Even with some negotiation margin, the minister states that the Government is not willing to withdraw the entire labor proposal and intends to "maintain the main lines."

Questioned about the need for the new labor package, the government official considered that it is when the labor market is robust and without economic shocks that structural reforms should be made.

"It is at these times that we have time to reflect on the need to adapt the labor market, and also labor legislation, to the challenges of the 21st century, of work in the digital era," she emphasized. The Government maintains private meetings with social partners in the coming weeks. The social concertation meeting will be on December 10, the day before the date announced by CGTP and UGT for the general strike.

For the Minister of Labor and Social Security, current labor legislation does not keep up with the evolution of the labor market.

"We have very serious structural problems that result, precisely, among other factors, from the fact that our legislation does not keep up with the economy and does not promote productivity. It is based on a work model that is from the 20th century, even from the 19th century," criticized the minister.

The government official pointed to low productivity levels in the country "28 percent below the European average," a wage level "35 percent below the European average," and a significant wage disparity between men and women, above 14 percent.