Portuguese labor protests in hospitality and retail

Labor unrest has emerged across different sectors in Portugal. In late September, the South Hospitality Union launched a “door-to-door” protest campaign known as the “Hotel Route” along Lisbon’s Avenida da Liberdade. This initiative, part of a broader national campaign by FESAHT, targets major hotels to protest low wages and demand the negotiation of collective bargaining agreements. Union leaders noted that despite a 6% increase in tourism revenues in May, workers remain among the lowest paid in the country, and negotiations for a Collective Labor Agreement in the Center-South region have reportedly been blocked since 2004.

By late October, labor mobilization extended to the retail sector. Employees at Lidl held protests across seven districts, including Estarreja, to denounce poor working conditions and staffing shortages. Organized by the Union of Commerce, Office and Service Workers of Portugal (CESP), the protests highlighted how insufficient personnel have led to excessive workloads, impacting store operations, customer service, and facility maintenance. On October 27, workers in the Aveiro district specifically reported that shortages made it impossible to manage product replenishment, cashier duties, and automated checkout assistance. The union also cited inadequate cleaning of restrooms and parking lots as a direct consequence of these resource shortages.