“It’s not enough for there to be a law; there must be real consequences for those who violate it. Workers cannot continue to be victims of covert practices disguised as ‘non-renewal of contract,'” the association warns in a statement.
The association’s position follows the data released by the Commission for Equality in Labor and Employment (CITE), which in 2024 received over 2,000 communications from companies that would not renew fixed-term contracts or intended to dismiss pregnant women, postpartum women, breastfeeding mothers, individuals on parental leave, or caregivers, the second-highest number in five years.
The Portuguese Fertility Association (APFertilidade) expresses “concern and indignation” at these figures, stating they represent “a clear signal that parenthood continues to be penalized in Portugal.”
“It’s profoundly unacceptable that women who decide to become mothers are punished in the workplace,” says Cláudia Vieira, president of the association and founding member of the +Fertility Movement, a project aiming to create a business ecosystem that supports fertility and parenthood and combats discrimination in the workplace.
Cláudia Vieira warns that “forming a family without fear of losing employment” is a fundamental right, and the State and companies have a duty to guarantee it.
The Association reminds that the Portuguese Labor Code expressly protects pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding workers against discriminatory dismissals and calls for strengthened supervision and effective accountability for entities that violate this protection.
As an organization working daily to promote fertility, access to treatment, and support for families, APFertilidade emphasizes that “the fight against infertility cannot be separated from the battle against job insecurity in parenthood.”
“It’s worthless encouraging people to have children if the system continues to penalize those who do. We need a work culture that truly respects families’ decisions to have children, valuing parenthood as an asset, not as a hindrance,” Cláudia Vieira argues.
The Association also calls for a concerted effort between the government, companies, and civil society to ensure that cases like these stop occurring and reiterates its willingness to collaborate in creating concrete measures that protect family rights and promote a more fertile, fair, and inclusive social environment.
