The number of collective dismissals has surged to levels not seen since 2020, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Labour. The regions of Lisboa e Vale do Tejo and the North are particularly affected.
In terms of regional statistics, Lisboa e Vale do Tejo and the North of the country remain the areas with the highest number of reported collective dismissals until September, with 203 and 126 respectively, comprising 49% and 31% of the total.
In September specifically, 200 workers were effectively laid off, a figure lower than the 634 in August and the 544 in the corresponding period of the previous year.
Of the 200 workers laid off in September, the Central region accounted for the majority (58%), with 117 workers effectively dismissed.
Regarding sectors, manufacturing industries, wholesale trade, health and social work activities, and consultancy, scientific, technical, and similar activities are the sectors with the highest number of dismissed workers in September. The primary reason cited globally is the reduction of staff (85% of the total).
Dismissals have risen to 2020 peaks
Companies reported 414 collective dismissals between January and September this year, marking a 17% increase compared to the same period last year, maintaining the highest level since 2020, according to DGERT data.
In the first nine months of the year, the Ministry of Labour received 60 more notifications of collective dismissals compared to the 354 recorded in the same period of 2024, according to data from the Directorate-General for Employment and Labour Relations (DGERT).
Similar to August, this is the highest figure since 2020, when it reached 521.
In September alone, 55 collective dismissals were reported, compared to 36 in the same month of the previous year.
The secretary-general of PCP argued today that the potential approval of the Government’s labor package will “add more precariousness to the precariousness, more deregulation of hours and facilitate dismissals”.
From the 414 collective dismissals reported by companies between January and September, 145 were from micro-enterprises, 167 from small businesses, 63 from medium-sized companies, and 39 from large enterprises.
The number of workers affected by collective dismissals increased by 16.6% up to September, compared to the same period last year, totaling 5,544 according to DGERT data.
Of these 5,544 workers affected by collective dismissals, 5,412 were effectively laid off, an increase of 21% compared to the same period last year.
Collective dismissals are increasing
The number of workers affected by collective dismissals has been increasing since 2023, with the figure recorded in the first nine months of this year already the highest since 2020 (5,371).
Women were the most affected by dismissals in September, accounting for 64% of the terminations.
The Minister of Labour assured today that negotiations with all social partners regarding changes to labor legislation are ongoing, emphasizing a priority for debate in Social Concertation.
