Portugal defends TAP sale as Brazil enacts labor reform

The Portuguese government has defended the sale of TAP Air Portugal to Lufthansa, refuting claims that the airline is being sold for nothing. Officials stated that the company is valued at nearly 2.6 billion euros, a significant increase from its September 2024 valuation of at most 350 million euros. The deal involves Lufthansa paying 1.201 billion euros for a 49.9% stake, which includes commitments to invest between 3 and 4 billion euros in new assets, such as the fleet.

In Brazil, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva addressed the promulgation of a constitutional amendment to end the 6x1 work scale. Responding to critics who argue the reduction in working hours could cause economic instability or business failures, Lula emphasized that the need to protect worker health and rest must take precedence. He rejected the notion that labor rights advancements inevitably lead to economic crises, comparing the current debate to historical resistance against the implementation of paid vacations and the thirteenth-month salary.