Portugal's Business Confederation Calls for New Labor Law Discussion

Armindo Monteiro, president of the Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP), urged that the debate on amending the Portuguese Labor Code be resumed, but cautioned against a rushed process. He said the discussion should start from “a new document from scratch” and highlighted the ongoing need for reforms, noting that the current proposal was rejected by a parliamentary majority that included votes against from Chega and left‑wing parties.

Monteiro emphasized that CIP’s push for changes is not a partisan “birra” but part of broader concerns about wages and pensions. He argued that a more comprehensive document could improve chances of parliamentary approval, and stressed that social partners and the government must agree before proceeding. The rejected proposal, submitted on 18 May, contained more than 50 amendments, including 12 suggested by the UGT trade union.

The CIP’s call reflects its desire to influence labor legislation while navigating the political dynamics of Portugal’s Concertação Social and the broader parliamentary landscape.