On a day of a general strike, thousands of protesters gathered for demonstrations across the country. In Lisbon, the protest began at Rossio and proceeded towards São Bento, where by late afternoon, a crowd filled the square in front of the Assembly of the Republic, protesting against the labor package proposed by the Government.
Along the way, chants, songs, and drums could be heard, and carnations and banners with messages against changes to labor laws were seen.
“‘Flexibility’ means exploitation,” “Precarious work is not the future,” and “No to the labor package” were some of the messages visible throughout the route.
As night fell, the protests grew more intense, and passions flared. By 6:30 pm, television broadcasts showed some demonstrators throwing bottles at the steps of the Assembly of the Republic, where PSP officers were stationed.
The tense atmosphere included insults directed at the prime minister and burning banners, creating small flames in front of the steps, at a time when the vast majority of protesters began to disperse.
Images also show that in front of the Parliament, a poster of the People-Animals-Nature Party had part of its phrase, “Prison for those who mistreat animals,” altered to read: “Prison for those who rob the people.”
Check out the gallery above for images of the protest.
Throughout the day, schools, health services, and businesses were closed or experienced disruptions due to the strike.
The general strike of December 11 was called by CGTP and UGT against the proposed revision of the Labor Code and is the first joint stoppage by the two unions since June 2013, when Portugal was under ‘troika’ intervention.
The proposed changes, named “Trabalho XXI,” which the Government presented as a “deep” revision of labor legislation by contemplating changes in “more than a hundred” articles of the Labor Code, aim to address dismissals, parenthood issues, expansion of contract terms, among others.
The first general strike in Portugal in 12 years is making headlines not only domestically but also internationally. Across Europe, several newspapers highlighted the Portuguese workers’ protest this Thursday.
Natacha Nunes Costa | 15:19 – 11/12/2025
