During a campaign event for the upcoming municipal elections on the 12th in Vila Nova de Gaia, where Livre and BE are running a joint list headed by João Martins for the City Council, Rui Tavares was asked about a report by the Commission for Equality in Labor and Employment (CITE).
The leader of Livre expressed concern that “all situations concerning labor rights” are troubling for Livre, adding that the country is “facing a government that aims to further compress these rights.”
“We are in a situation of full employment, with the economy still growing. At this moment, we should be trying to enhance the value of labor since this is an opportunity for workers to achieve better conditions. Moreover, only with better working conditions in Portugal can we have an attractive economy,” he argued.
Persisting in his criticism of the PSD/CDS-PP executive in this area, and pointing out the “obsession” of the Liberal Initiative (IL) with public employees and Chega’s obsession with immigrants, Tavares highlighted that Portugal requires workers “all rowing in the same direction.”
Marisa Matias also noted that “the data remain concerning” and emphasized the need for measures to prevent further deterioration.
“I am concerned that the Government’s latest proposals, which are yet to be discussed, regarding changes to labor law, are very broad proposals but unfortunately all aimed at further reducing labor protection and rights for workers,” she criticized, referring to the draft law by the PSD/CDS-PP government titled “Work XXI.”
Asked whether the party fears criticism on this matter, due to a recent controversy involving layoffs of women who had become mothers in 2022, Marisa Matias declared herself “prepared for all debates.”
“I am not prepared, nor will I ever be, to make comparisons between what is incomparable. The path must always be, and it is the path that the Bloco takes, and must take, towards greater protection and ensuring that we achieve equality, sooner or later, but we must aim to reach it sooner rather than later,” she added.
During this campaign activity, Rui Tavares and Marisa Matias took a short walk between the Santo Ovídio and João de Deus metro stations, and along the way, purchased some fruit.
Marisa Matias picked up a banana and helped Rui Tavares bag some grapes, demonstrating cooperation between coalition partners.
The two leaders approached some of the few people they encountered, including a man named Terrinha, who wished to give “oxygen” to the Livre and BE campaign before the group moved on.
