Portugal PM Luís Montenegro vows to push labor reform through parliament

Prime Minister Luís Montenegro said he will “do everything” the government can to ensure the labour reform package passes the Portuguese Parliament. He made the remarks ahead of an afternoon meeting with Chega leader André Ventura, stressing that a more competitive labour legislation is essential for the country’s economic performance.

Montenegro delivered the comments in Aljustrel, Beja, after presenting a €400 million investment by mining concessionaire Almina and inaugurating a 4.4‑kilometre road variant financed by the EU Recovery and Resilience Plan. At the ceremony, a small group of CGTP protestors demonstrated against the labour proposal.

The reform, also linked to a single social pension proposal, will be debated in Parliament on Thursday. Socialists, including party secretary‑general José Luís Carneiro, have criticised the government’s dealings with Chega, calling the negotiations a “mask ball”. Former finance minister Mário Centeno warned of a lack of clarity in the government’s fiscal strategy and flagged a difficult budget outlook.