General Strike and Proposed Labor Law Amendment

Portugal is experiencing a general strike today, a stoppage called in protest against the proposed amendment to labor legislation, titled "Work XXI," presented by the Government. This is the first general strike to unite the two main union confederations, UGT and CGTP, since 2013, which demonstrates the strong opposition to the proposed measures.

The changes, which the Government considers a "profound" reform of the Labor Code, cover more than a hundred articles and affect sensitive areas such as:

• Parenthood: Changes in leave and allowances, highlighting the possibility of a six-month shared leave, but with criticism of new conditions and amounts.

• Employment contracts: Extension of the terms of fixed-term contracts and new situations that allow their use, which the unions consider an increase in precariousness.

• Strike law: Expansion of minimum services to sectors such as daycare centers, nursing homes, and food supply, and restrictions on union action in companies without unionized workers.

• Working time: Return of the individual time bank, which allows the employer to increase the daily working hours by up to two hours, with an annual limit.

• Dismissals: Although the Government has backed down on some proposals, such as simplifying dismissals in medium-sized companies, the repeal of rules restricting the use of outsourcing after dismissals remains.

The unions consider that this reform represents a "civilizational setback" and an "attack on workers' rights," weakening their position and unbalancing labor relations in favor of employers. The general strike thus emerges as a strong "signal of rejection" of these changes, with the unions demanding the withdrawal of the proposal and the opening of a genuine negotiation process

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