Portugal Hit by Second General Strike in Six Months
En resumen
- Portugal experiences its second general strike in six months, impacting transport, schools, and hospitals.
- Unions protest government labor law reforms aimed at deregulating working hours and easing dismissals.
Resumen generado por IA
Por qué importa
Portugal's minority center-right government is planning labor law reforms that unions argue will deregulate working hours, make dismissals easier, curb strike rights, and lower parental protections. This is the third general strike in Portugal since 2013.
Portugal has been hit by the second general strike in six months, with transport, schools and hospitals all impacted by the industrial action.
Unions called the 24-hour strike in protest at plans by the government to reform labor laws, saying they would deregulate working hours, make dismissals easier, curb strike rights and lower parental protections.
What disruption has the strike caused?
State-owned railway CP has suspended long-distance trains and most regional services amid the strike.
The metro in the capital, Lisbon, has shut.
Across the country, schools have closed, while hospitals have postponed most surgeries and appointments after nurses walked out.
The aviation sector has also been impacted, with national flag carrier TAP saying it would operate just 79 of the more than 300 flights it makes daily.
Spanish airline Iberia says it expects reductions of between 50% and 75%.
A protest march is planned through Lisbon starting at 2.30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT).
What have unions and the government said about the reform plans?
The labor code reform package put forward by Portugal's minority center-right government is likely to pass with support from the far-right Chega party.
Tiago Oliveira, head of Portugal's largest umbrella union CGTP, told Reuters news agency that the reforms would worsen workers' conditions with changes to working hours as well as their rights in case of dismissal.
Among other things, he said the reforms would leave young workers "stuck on precarious contracts for life," forcing them to work 50 hours a week without extra pay instead of the current standard 40 hours.
The government has said the changes aim to boost productivity and spur growth.
Wednesday's strike is only the third general shutdown in Portugal since protests against austerity in 2013.
Qué observar
Perspectiva de IA — posibilidades, no hechos
The labor code reform package will likely pass with support from the Chega party.
Probable · En semanas
Further protests or industrial action may occur if reforms are passed.
Posible · En meses
Preguntas abiertas
- What will be the specific economic impact of the strike?
- Will the government proceed with the reforms despite the strike?
- What is the public's overall opinion on the proposed labor reforms?
- How will the Chega party's support influence the passage of the reforms?
