On the eve of World Social Security Day, the trade union center issued a statement accusing a renewed assault on public social security systems under the guise of sustainability.
The union confederation claims that this offensive includes the Green Paper for the Sustainability of the Social Welfare System, drafted by a committee appointed by the Socialist Government in 2022.
However, the final version of the document was presented in 2024 by the PSD-CDS Government.
The CGTP underscored that the proposals include private systems to partially or entirely replace the public system, benefiting large financial institutions and insurance groups.
While acknowledging the need to seek alternative funding methods, the trade union lamented the government’s intention to undertake a profound transformation of the system. According to CGTP, this intention is evident from the formation of a Working Group composed of individuals with ties to major financial groups to study this reform.
The union also noted that increased employment, reduced job insecurity, better wages, and addressing wage under-reporting would strengthen social security.
CGTP firmly rejects replacing the public social security system with supplementary schemes or regimes and emphasizes that tackling social security challenges involves promoting sustained economic growth and job creation.
Conversely, it opposes reducing social contributions and funding the system via taxes, capping contributions, or any privatization measures of social security.
The union also stands against any cuts or reductions in rights concerning illness, old age, disability, widowhood, orphanhood, unemployment, or family support.
In light of World Social Security Day, CGTP-IN strongly advocates for the defense and reinforcement of a public, universal, and solidarity-based social security system and a publicly managed pension regime.
The trade union highlights the pressing need to remain vigilant and prepared to combat potential initiatives aimed at reversing workers’ rights, particularly measures threatening the public social security system and the intergenerational and professional solidarity principles it upholds.
