Historians from CGTP and UGT unions voice demands for union action in response to proposed labor law changes
In a joint statement, historic leaders of trade union centers, Manuel Carvalho da Silva and José Torres Couto, have urged the rejection of the government-proposed labor reform measures, which they claim attack workers' rights without prior announcement during the electoral campaign. The specific parties named in the appeal are not explicitly detailed in the provided search results.
The proposed reform, named "Work XXI", is a deep revision of labor legislation, aiming to review over a hundred articles of the Labor Code. The objective, according to the Minister of Labor, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, is to "flexibilize labor regimes" and increase the "competitiveness of the economy" and "promote the productivity of companies". The reform also aims to "value workers through merit", stimulate employment, particularly youth employment, and dynamize collective bargaining.
Changes in the proposal include modifications to parental leave, breastfeeding, and gestational leave, as well as flexible work, training in companies, and trial periods for employment contracts. The reform also expands sectors covered by minimum services in case of strike.
The former union leaders question whether Luís Montenegro, the current Prime Minister, would have received the same number of votes in the legislative elections if he had announced plans to propose 100 changes to labor laws contrary to workers' interests.
Protests against the proposed labor reform are scheduled for September 13 with the slogan "Nothing silences us when the dignity of our children depends on our strength." Citizens are rallying together, expressing their concern over the potential impact of the reform on workers' rights and their families.
In a show of solidarity, the CGTP has called for demonstrations on September 20 in Lisbon and Porto against changes to labor laws. They attribute the stagnation of the national economy to the persistence in maintaining a retrograde policy of low wages, which does not stimulate employers to invest in technological innovation and management improvement.
The union leaders also attribute the disillusionment of many thousands of Portuguese with the democratic regime to broken promises, repeated lies, and disastrous privatizations and other shady deals, indicators of corruption.
The appeal includes urging union structures to influence opposition parties, particularly the PS, to reject measures announced by the government. The union leaders also ask CGTP and UGT to act in harmony in social concertation council, with the President of the Republic, and with other organizations and entities of civil society.
As the negotiations on the labor reform bill continue, the future of workers' rights and the economy hang in the balance. The protests and calls for rejection serve as a reminder of the importance of maintaining a balance between economic growth and workers' interests.
[News updated at 11:59 PM] The CGTP has also called for demonstrations on September 20 in Lisbon and Porto against changes to labor laws.
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