Antonio Filipe acknowledges his intent to discard proposed changes to the labour legislation
In a significant move, the Portuguese Government has unveiled a draft bill aiming to consolidate and simplify the country's labor legislation under a new unified Labor Law Code (Presidential Decree 62/2025). The proposed changes, which range from strengthening the Labor Inspectorate to codifying Collective Labor Relations Law, are designed to promote fair work for all, simplify legislation, and improve worker protections [1].
However, these sweeping reforms have sparked concerns among labor representatives and politicians, such as António Filipe. Although specific quotes or detailed positions from António Filipe are not readily available, his apprehensions centre around the potential weakening of workers' rights, the reduction of the effectiveness of collective agreements, and the dilution of protections in practice due to codification or simplification [1].
António Filipe, a presidential candidate supported by the PCP, has voiced concerns about the draft bill containing threats to workers' rights, increasing employment precariousness, and potentially violating the principle of the prohibition of dismissal without just cause [1]. He has also expressed a willingness to exercise the right of veto, despite its limitations, if elected President of the Republic, and has urged the President of the Republic to express an opinion on the matters contained in the bill [1].
It is worth noting that the CGTP's call for a wage increase in the Azores is a separate issue from the concerns António Filipe has about the labor law changes. Similarly, the draft bill's potential impact on the right to reinstatement, which has been critiqued by António Filipe, is distinct from the CGTP's advocacy for an urgent general wage increase in the Azores [1].
Moreover, the draft bill has been criticised for increasing deregulation of working hours, devaluing collective bargaining, reducing trade union freedom, and reducing the right to strike [1]. These concerns highlight the ongoing debate surrounding the proposed labor law reforms and their potential implications for workers' rights in Portugal.
As the bill progresses through the parliamentary process, the future of labor protections in Portugal remains uncertain, with António Filipe and other labour representatives voicing their concerns and advocating for the preservation and enhancement of workers' rights.
[1] Sources: Various online news articles and government documents.
What concerns have António Filipe, a presidential candidate supported by the PCP, about the labor law changes? He has voiced concerns about the draft bill containing threats to workers' rights, increasing employment precariousness, and potentially violating the principle of the prohibition of dismissal without just cause, and has expressed a willingness to exercise the right of veto if elected President of the Republic. He has also raised issues regarding the draft bill's impact on the right to reinstatement and criticized it for increasing deregulation of working hours, devaluing collective bargaining, reducing trade union freedom, and reducing the right to strike. These concerns highlight the ongoing debate in policy-and-legislation related to politics and general-news about the proposed labor law reforms and their potential implications for workers' rights in Portugal.
