Portugal's President warns of precarious work and AI's impact on jobs
Portugal’s President has delivered a stark warning about the challenges facing workers in his annual May Day message. He highlighted deep unease caused by war, economic slowdown, and soaring living costs as key pressures on employees across the country. The speech also addressed the growing impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on the future of work. The President began by acknowledging the struggles of Portuguese workers, extending respect and recognition for their contributions. He stressed that May Day serves as a reminder that the dignity of labour is fundamental to human dignity itself.
He criticised the widespread normalisation of precarious employment, calling it unacceptable. Too many contracts and lives, he argued, now revolve around instability rather than security. The President insisted that work must provide enough to cover basic needs—rent, food, and a future for children—rather than leaving families in uncertainty.
Technology, he noted, is reshaping industries, but its effects depend on political choices. Regulation, he argued, must ensure that benefits from advancements like AI and robotics are shared fairly. The President also recalled past struggles, pointing out that workers have overcome similar challenges before through organisation and collective action. The President’s message ended with a firm commitment to never ignore the hardships faced by workers. He called for decent work that guarantees a dignified life, rejecting the idea that precarity is inevitable. The speech reinforced the need for fair policies and continued efforts to protect labour rights in a changing economy.
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