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The strike, called by Portugal’s two main trade union federations, is expected to cause serious flight and rail disruptions, the closure of many government services and the cancellation of medical appointments and classes on Thursday.
Two labor groups represent nearly one million Portuguese Workers say it could be the country’s biggest walkout in more than 10 years as they protest the centre-right government’s planned changes to employment laws.
Unions say these changes take away workers’ rights, while the government argues that these changes are necessary to make the economy more resilient and spur growth.
The proposed changes include making it easier for companies to fire workers, denying the right to strike in additional sectors of the economy, and limiting breastfeeding leave for mothers to the first two years of a child’s life from the existing open-ended dispensation.
Portugal is one of the EU’s smallest economies and its workers are among the lowest paid in the 27-nation bloc. According to the National Institute of Statistics, the average monthly salary before taxes is about 1,600 euros ($1,870). The minimum monthly wage earned by millions of workers is 870 euros ($1,018) before taxes.
The Portuguese are also troubled by the housing and cost of living crisis, as property prices are rising and inflation is just over 2%.
European Commission Portugal is expected to achieve GDP growth of about 2% this year, higher than the EU average of 1.4%. Unemployment This is less than 6%, which is roughly the EU average.
Trade unions planned a street march later on Thursday. It is the first time since 2013 that the umbrella groups – the General Workers Union and the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – have joined forces.
Social Democrat Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described the strike as “senseless” because the country is doing well.