The proposed labor package represents a significant setback in the world of work, stated the Secretary-General of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – Intersindical Nacional (CGTP), Tiago Oliveira, following a meeting with the President of the Republic at the Palácio de Belém in Lisbon.
The trade union central expresses “great concern” and “negativity” regarding the Government’s proposal and urges the Government to “withdraw completely” from the discussion, emphasizing that the proposal contains “unconstitutional” elements, such as issues related to “dismissals, freedom of association, and collective bargaining.”
“Of course, we made sure to express our concern to the President,” indicated Tiago Oliveira.
As previously mentioned in statements to Lusa, the CGTP Secretary-General calls on the Head of State to comment on the Government’s draft proposal.
“We believe the President should express his opinion on what’s currently on the table,” he added, stressing that this is “a real attack on workers’ rights.”
When asked if the CGTP would consider joining forces with the General Union of Workers (UGT) to oppose the labor reform, as advocated by former leaders of the CGTP and UGT, Carvalho da Silva and Torres Couto, the CGTP Secretary-General mentioned that for now, “unity” is being achieved “in workplaces” and urged workers to join the demonstration called for September 20 by this trade union central.
“No form of protest is excluded. At this moment, everything is on the table,” he emphasized, indicating that everything depends on “the Government’s response to the workers’ position and demands.”
Besides the CGTP, the President of the Republic will also meet today with the UGT and the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP) regarding this issue.
The draft proposal for revising labor legislation will begin to be debated with social partners on Wednesday during what is the first social dialogue meeting following the proposal’s presentation, named “Work XXI.”
Since then, bilateral meetings between the Government and social partners have been taking place, as officially confirmed to the Lusa agency by a source from the Ministry of Labor.
The proposed changes from the executive cover areas ranging from parenting (with changes in parental leave, breastfeeding, and gestational bereavement) to flexible work, corporate training, or the trial period of employment contracts, and also include an expansion of sectors that will be subject to minimum services in the event of a strike.
