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portugal Set for widespread disruption on Thursday major strikeOrganized by the country’s two major trade union federations, the strike threatens to paralyze transport, public services and healthcare.
The industrial action, which could be the country’s biggest strike in more than a decade, involves nearly one million Portuguese workers.
Unions are opposing the centre-right government Proposed amendments to employment lawsThey argue that these changes will eliminate workers’ rights. In contrast, the government believes reforms are important to enhance economic resilience and stimulate 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.