Portugal's labour reform talks stall as UGT leader rejects draft
Union Leader Vows to Reject Labor Reform Draft Ahead of Key Vote
On the eve of the national secretariat meeting of the UGT trade union confederation, union leader Carlos Alves made his stance clear: "I will vote against this draft proposal," the UGT executive secretary declared Thursday morning at the Annual Labor Conference in Lisbon, according to remarks reported by the Eco newspaper.
The government's latest proposal on labor law reforms will be debated and put to a vote on Thursday during a meeting of UGT's national secretariat. Alves stressed, however, that his vote would not bind the union: "We take the functioning of our bodies very seriously—I don't know if this will be the majority position," he emphasized.
While calling for consensus in the Social Concertation talks, Alves urged the government not to discard the progress made during negotiations if no agreement is reached: "There have been some advances, and that is important," he acknowledged, though the union maintains that the draft still falls short on key issues.
Minister Confirms Revised Document
Speaking at the same conference earlier in the day, Labor Minister Rosário Palma Ramalho offered reassurance: without UGT's approval, she said, the version sent to Parliament for debate would still incorporate contributions from the social partners. "It will not be the same as the original draft. It will already reflect the enrichments made over these nine months of negotiations. The discussion will now move to the decisive phase," she insisted.
The minister also placed responsibility for the outcome of the talks squarely on UGT, asserting that the government had acted in good faith: "The government has consistently shown goodwill and made numerous concessions," she stated, while emphasizing its commitment to "preserving social peace."
UGT's Stance Remains Uncertain
"The result of this negotiation now hinges on one partner's decision: UGT. The government trusts that UGT will honor its tradition of dialogue, commitment, and dedication to ensuring workers have better conditions and higher wages than they do today," added the minister, who has overseen the reform first presented last July by Prime Minister Luís Montenegro's administration.
President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, who continues to urge dialogue, will meet with social partners at Belém Palace on Wednesday, denying allegations that he is applying pressure on any party.
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