“It takes a lot of nerve,” stated Paulo Raimundo when questioned about the government’s leader, Luís Montenegro, requesting labor unions to act responsibly and avoid the general strike planned for December 11.
The PCP leader was speaking to journalists ahead of the party’s delegation visit to Hospital Amadora-Sintra.
Paulo Raimundo argued that the government has shown “profound irresponsibility” towards “five million workers” with proposals in the new labor package, which he believes promote job insecurity.
“The government wants to push for more insecurity. (…) It aims to introduce dismissals without cause, further deregulate working hours. Almost three million people already work weekends, Saturdays, Sundays, holidays, nights, in shifts. This deregulation is not enough, and the government wants to increase it,” he criticized.
The communist secretary-general also mentioned the intent to “introduce individual working hour banks” and their impact on employees.
“It’s akin to saying, ‘you work when I want, and maybe you can rest at some point without additional pay’,” he explained.
Prime Minister Luís Montenegro urged on Wednesday for unions to be responsible and avoid the general strike, highlighting that the government’s draft is preliminary and that labor reform negotiations are ongoing.
Asked about presidential candidate Marques Mendes’ advice that the government should engage with the UGT to reach an agreement to prevent a general strike over labor law reforms, Luís Montenegro responded that he gives “all possible attention to all social partners and particularly to the UGT.”
