Thousands March in Lisbon and Porto Against Government's Labor Reform Package

Massive Protests Across Portugal

Workers and union members took to the streets in large numbers this Saturday, with demonstrations in both Lisbon and Porto. The protests were organized by the CGTP (General Confederation of Portuguese Workers) to oppose the planned labor law reforms by the government of Luís Montenegro.

Key Figures and Messages

In Lisbon, the march began at Praça do Marquês de Pombal and proceeded down Avenida da Liberdade. Participants carried signs with slogans like '35 hours for all' and 'no to the labor package', highlighting their demands for better working conditions.

Prominent left-wing politicians joined the protests, including Paulo Raimundo, Secretary-General of the PCP (Portuguese Communist Party), former Bloco de Esquerda coordinator and presidential candidate Catarina Martins, and Patrícia Gonçalves from the Livre party. António Filipe, the PCP's candidate for the presidency, was also present, showing broad support from parliamentary left groups.

Voices from the Ground

Tiago Oliveira, Secretary-General of the CGTP, stated that 'workers are fed up with being constantly subjected to circumstances that penalize their lives'. He emphasized the need to inform and mobilize workers, saying, 'The central issue now is to bring workers to the streets to fight'.

The protests were part of a national day of action, with an earlier event in the morning in Porto. Oliveira described it as a 'great moment of struggle to defeat the government's intentions', calling the proposed reforms a 'profound attack on workers' rights'.

Government Response and Criticisms

During a recent Social Concertation meeting on September 10, the government promised a revised version of the labor law proposal with improvements in family and parental matters, as reported by UGT and the Business Confederation of Portugal. However, Oliveira criticized this as insufficient, noting that 'workers would never forgive the CGTP for reversing one or two measures in a package of over 100, while the rest remain penalizing'.

He accused the government of presenting 'over 100 measures aimed at a settlement of accounts', and reiterated that the reforms represent 'one of the biggest attacks on workers'.

Broader Issues Raised

The protests also addressed wider concerns, including:

• Precarious employment: 1.3 million workers with unstable contracts, and 54% of young people in precarious jobs.
• Deregulated work hours: 1.9 million workers affected by irregular schedules.
• Low wages and purchasing power: Calls for significant salary increases.
• Collective bargaining: Demands to revoke existing laws that undermine union rights and reinstate the principle of more favorable treatment for workers.
• Cost of living: Issues with housing, energy, and essential goods, alongside calls for fair tax reforms.

In a resolution, the CGTP committed to 'develop all necessary forms of struggle with determination' to defeat the labor package and advocate for a fairer society based on the values of the April Revolution and the Portuguese Constitution.

Video coverage available: CGTP Protest in Lisbon