Mass Protest Against Labor Law Changes in Portugal

Approximately 200 people gathered today near the Assembly of the Republic to protest against the draft reform of labor legislation approved by the government, which is set to be negotiated with social partners. Protesters argue that the changes threaten essential rights and could increase job insecurity.

Organizer Zaida Alves, who leads the public petition "Unacceptable Setbacks in the Rights of Women, Mothers, and Babies," emphasized that the movement is composed of a 24-person team with no ties to any political party or union. "We want to mobilize people and draw attention to the rights that could be taken away with this draft, and show the government that we can be ten, we can be a thousand: we are voices that rise up," she told Lusa.

Alves expressed hope that the government will listen to the people and collectives, taking their voices into account. During the protest, which included dozens of parents with their children, she defended that the draft "threatens essential achievements" and will heighten precariousness.

Lawyer and co-organizer Mónica Fontiela Simões highlighted specific proposals in the draft that she believes have not been adequately addressed, such as the weakening of telework regulations, collective bargaining, and attacks on the right to strike. She also warned of increased outsourcing of services, greater job insecurity, and weakened labor inspection.

Simões explained to Lusa that the concentration aims to show the government that workers disagree with these changes, which she said favor companies and employers. "I think it can serve to show the government that workers are upset, they don't agree with the draft, they see their lives becoming more fragile, especially female workers with issues like breastfeeding hours," she stated.

She added, "The draft is much more than breastfeeding or gestational grief: what it represents is a setback for all workers, not just mothers who breastfeed or those with children, but for everyone."

Margarida Mantas, a mother who joined the protest, called it "a great attack on all families." Sofia Teles, another protester, expressed concern over her rights being attacked, saying, "I'm seeing my rights under attack. One day I want to start a family, have children, and I see the government taking away rights that were achieved with a lot of hard work," accusing the executive of making it easier to fire employees.

Artur, who is in a situation of 'false green receipt' (a type of precarious contract), expressed perplexity at the measures, considering that they will worsen workers' lives.

Credit: FILIPE AMORIM

Presidential candidate António Filipe, supported by the CDU, praised the initiative and pointed out that the government's draft foresees "very serious setbacks." The former deputy told journalists, "I would say that labor law, which was created to protect workers, the government is trying to turn it into a branch to attack workers."

Joana Mortágua from the Bloc of Left, who accompanied presidential candidate Catarina Martins, considered that this draft "will increase precariousness and lower wages in Portugal." She lamented, "We should be discussing the improvement of parental rights, increasing the number of days of parental leave," adding that "there are no rights in parenthood under precarious conditions."

Credit: FILIPE AMORIM

The proposed changes, dubbed "Work XXI" and presented by the government on July 24 as a "profound" revision of labor legislation, cover areas from parenthood (with alterations in parental leave, breastfeeding, and gestational grief) to flexible work, in-company training, or probation periods in employment contracts. It also includes an expansion of sectors subject to minimum services during strikes.

After the Council of Ministers approved the draft on July 24, the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security stated that the goal is to make labor regimes "that are very rigid" more flexible, to increase "economic competitiveness and promote company productivity."