“It is with great concern that I see the announcement of a new offensive reminiscent of the ‘troika’ era, which is infamous regarding workers’ rights. We will naturally wait for the proposals to be made, but I am deeply concerned by this announcement from the Government,” he said.
The former deputy and presidential candidate supported by the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) spoke to journalists at the end of a visit to the Arsenal do Alfeite, in Laranjeiro, Almada, following questions about the planned changes to labor legislation approved Thursday by the council of ministers.
António Filipe emphasized that defending workers’ rights is a fundamental issue in his candidacy, advocating for the need to value the labor factor in Portuguese society and protect workers from precariousness so that “Portugal ceases to be a country with an economy based on low wages.”
The Government approved a draft bill on Thursday for a “profound reform” of labor legislation, which will be negotiated with social partners and includes revising “over a hundred articles of the Labor Code.”
The reform, named “Work XXI,” aims to make labor regimes more flexible to increase the “competitiveness of the economy and promote the productivity of companies,” according to the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, at a press conference.
Regarding the visit to the Arsenal do Alfeite, the presidential candidate highlighted the importance of the structure as a strategic company for National Defense and advocated for its modernization and increased human resources.
“Investments, specifically in the docking capacity of the Arsenal, have been planned for many years, but they have never been implemented, and they must be carried out,” stressed the former deputy.
Emphasizing that “there is no Portuguese Navy without the Arsenal do Alfeite,” António Filipe noted that “necessary investments have been delayed for the company to fulfill its functions in maintaining the Portuguese Navy’s ships.”
The candidate argued that the investments are also necessary considering the responsibilities of the Portuguese State “regarding the vast maritime area under national responsibility.”
