This week has been intensely marked by statements from the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, who acknowledged having “knowledge of many abusive practices” concerning breastfeeding leave. The controversy has escalated, with politicians and associations criticizing the minister’s statement, in which she observed that “children seem to continue being breastfed to give the worker a reduced schedule, which is two hours a day paid by the employer, even until they go to primary school.”
After these comments, made in an interview with Jornal de Notícias, Notícias ao Minuto sought clarification from the ministry regarding the numbers involved. An official ministry source explained: “Regarding the requests for data, it is important to clarify that the leave is granted and supported directly by the employers.”
This indicates that the Government currently does not know how many mothers are on reduced schedules due to this legally prescribed leave. The statement in question is given to the company, serving to justify the worker’s absence for two hours. The statement is not communicated to any other entity.
The statement regarding breastfeeding leave, which is submitted by mothers, remains with the company and is not communicated to any other entity. This also means that these numbers do not reach the Executive, and thus, the Government does not know how many workers are on reduced schedules.
Beatriz Vasconcelos | 11:02 – 06/08/2025
Following the initial criticisms and four days passing since the Government’s stance was taken, there are now requests for data from politicians, the possibility of “joint proposals”, and also reports of “extreme” situations where workers were prevented from using leaves.
Parties Demand Numbers, “Joint Proposal” (and Reject “Lessons”)
On Wednesday afternoon, the president of Chega, André Ventura, held a press conference in which he explained that he had already conveyed to the Secretary-General of the Social Democratic Party, Hugo Soares, that he is ready to participate in a “joint proposal” to ensure that labor law amendments can be approved “without any need for the PS” at the start of parliamentary sessions.
Ventura cautioned, however, that he would establish ‘red lines’ concerning gestational mourning, breastfeeding, and short-term contracts.
The opposition leader emphasized that “he cannot accept, and the Government should reverse, the reduction of breastfeeding leave”, considering it “a mistake for Portuguese mothers and a mistake in a country experiencing a demographic winter.”
The president of Chega said today that he challenged the PSD Parliamentary leader, Hugo Soares, for a “joint proposal” on labor legislation, despite setting “red lines” on gestational mourning, breastfeeding, and short-term contracts.
Lusa | 14:07 – 06/08/2025
Meanwhile, the Secretary-General of the Socialist Party (PS), José Luís Carneiro, warned, in ‘response’ to Ventura’s challenge to Soares, that no one should forget that majorities and minorities are always “very transitory”, alluding to the right-wing parliamentary majority. “One thing democracy teaches us is that majorities and minorities are always very transitory, and it is very important that the Government is aware of this,” he pointed out.
Carneiro further stated that the PS would not accept “lessons from anyone”, with reference to Chega’s attempt to exclude the PS from labor law reform. Emphasizing the significant impact of the socialists on this matter, he reinforced: “I reaffirm what the fundamental values of the Socialist Party are. For us, the precariousness of labor relations is unacceptable, particularly concerning the protection of women workers’ rights, young workers, and at the same time, we will fight for adequate salaries […], ensuring Portugal aligns with the best international practices.”
The Secretary-General of the PS warned today that majoritarian and minority forces are always “very transitory,” referring to the right-wing parliamentary majority and emphasizing that it is crucial for the Government not to forget this.
Lusa | 21:59 – 06/08/2025
Meanwhile, the Livre party submitted a question to the Government. Regarding breastfeeding or nursing leave, Livre is requesting statistics from the Executive on the number of beneficiaries of this leave during and after the first year, with the distribution of the time spent on leave by the child’s age.
Regarding the “scope and coverage” of the initial and extended parental leave, Livre seeks to know the number of beneficiaries of the father’s exclusive leave, the distribution and number of beneficiaries by gender of the initial parental leave, as well as the average duration of the initial and extended leave.
Today, Livre asked the Minister of Labor for recent years’ data on the reach of initial and extended parental leave and the use of breastfeeding leave during and after the child’s first year.
Lusa | 16:15 – 06/08/2025
Former Socialist Labor Minister José António Vieira da Silva also responded, accusing the current minister holding the same post of making “incomprehensible statements” about breastfeeding abuses and highlighting that “not having the data (…) creates a sort of black shroud over who benefits from this measure.”
Former Socialist Labor Minister José António Vieira da Silva accuses the current minister of making “incomprehensible statements” about breastfeeding abuses and highlights that “not having the data (…) creates a sort of black shroud over who benefits from this measure”.
Notícias ao Minuto | 08:47 – 07/08/2025
What Do Associations Say?
Several associations have been criticizing the Executive, and recently, it was the turn of the Women’s Democratic Movement (MSM) to present its analysis. Upon examining the proposed amendment to the Labor Code, it identified several areas it believes are concerning and “a step backward”. According to the MSM, the statements by the Minister of Labor, suggesting that breastfeeding rights may be used to shirk work, revealed a “hostile, suspicious, and discriminatory view of women’s choices”, facilitating a narrative of suspicion against those who breastfeed, the movement accused.
The MSM criticizes the proposal but notes that it is not the only issue with the package of measures, warning of “the blow to the right to a flexible schedule,” since the Government seeks to end the ability to refuse night work or weekend work for those with children up to 12 years old.
The Commission for Equality in Work and Employment (CITE) disclosed that it received a complaint this year “from a woman regarding the violation of the right to breastfeeding leave”, but it did not receive any report from employers alleging that workers were abusing this right.
However, CITE President Carla Tavares explains that the unions “continue to receive reports” occurring across the country, especially in fields with a higher presence of women, such as healthcare, catering, commerce, or industry.
Fátima Messias, coordinator for the Commission for Equality between Women and Men at CGTP-IN, also noted that there is knowledge of “examples of limitations and extreme situations.” She recalled one such case where “employers wanted to force women to pump their breasts to prove they still had milk for their children”.
[News updated at 08:52]
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