In a legislative proposal submitted to the Assembly of the Republic on Student Day, the party represented by MP Inês de Sousa Real has proposed the establishment of the Higher Education Student Statute, which aims at “harmonizing the student-worker status and the applicable rights framework.”
PAN indicates that this standardization is necessary due to “very significant inequalities” among higher education institutions concerning these students’ rights. While labor legislation governs these rights for employers, universities do not apply the same standards.
The party seeks to ensure that all student-workers have the right to take exams in a special period for two semester-based courses or one annual course, have priority in scheduling, and are exempt from the requirement to attend a minimum number of classes.
The same proposal includes harmonizing the status of high-performance athletes and recognizes the rights of students in mobility programs, firefighters, military personnel, or those with dependents to take exams during special periods.
PAN also envisions the Higher Education Student Statute containing harassment prevention strategies, establishing the “right to access reporting platforms for harassment, sexual violence, and discrimination, with confidentiality assured, as well as access to psychological support services for victims of harassment and sexual violence.”
In another proposal concerning higher education, PAN suggests extending social benefits such as family allowances or scholarships to student-workers, addressing what they describe as a “gap” and “unjustified discrimination” in the law that prevents self-employed workers from accessing these benefits.
The party also submitted a resolution urging the Government to provide free monthly transport passes for all young people up to the age of 30.
