Manuel Carvalho da Silva, former leader of CGTP, moderated a session on labor reform organized by the association Causa Pública at the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences of Universidade Nova de Lisboa. He began by highlighting the vulnerability of Portuguese society to “neoliberal ideas” and the potential for political pressures in the negotiation process for labor legislation reform.
“There will be many threats. Various forms of coercion will occur, including within the operations of social dialogue,” he noted, emphasizing repeatedly that “there is no democracy without unions.”
According to the current secretary-general of CGTP, Tiago Oliveira, the labor package proposed by the Government represents one of the most significant assaults on labor legislation in recent decades, consolidating the power of employers at the expense of workers.
“The proposed changes to labor legislation limit union freedom, placing in the hands of companies, in the hands of employers, the decision regarding union access to the workplace and denying workers access to information, organization, and knowledge, thus attacking democracy.”
Regarding the proposed changes to strike laws, he warns that they “limit it, citing the freedom of others.”
Tiago Oliveira also criticized the impact of the measures on job insecurity, collective bargaining, and maternity and paternity rights.
“This is the beginning of a struggle that will be intense and is crucial for workers and the future of the country. The time now is to give more confidence to workers. Who says the inevitable cannot be transformed? The past shows otherwise, and this is built with the struggle of workers,” he added.
The deputy secretary-general of UGT, Sérgio Monte, described the proposal as a “liberal counter-reform,” highlighting that it favors employer interests from the signing to the execution and termination of labor contracts.
“The proposal does not protect workers’ rights and is heavily skewed in favor of employers. Moreover, it gives employers power from the signing of the contract, during its execution, and even at the termination of the work contract,” he warned.
Sérgio Monte stressed the importance of collective bargaining and warned against the loss of stability and rights in affected sectors: “The collective notion is the jewel of union activity. Once we lose a significant part of our union activities, we face social regression,” he lamented.
The Government’s draft for revising labor legislation, presented at the end of July, began discussions with social partners this week.
The proposed changes by the executive cover areas from parenthood (with changes to parental leave, breastfeeding, and gestational bereavement) to flexible work, company training, and the trial period of employment contracts, also extending the sectors covered by minimum services during strikes.
Business confederations have welcomed the proposal, acknowledging that there is room for improvements, while trade unions have been highly critical of the government’s draft, labeling the proposal as an attack on workers’ rights and a civilizational setback.
CGTP-IN has called for a National Day of Struggle against the labor package, scheduled for September 20, with demonstrations in Porto (10:30 a.m.) and in Lisbon (3:00 p.m.), demanding that the Government withdraw the proposed changes to labor legislation, considering them a “widespread attack” on workers’ rights.
