Lisbon, Dec. 10, 2025 (Lusa) - CGTP and UGT trade union confederations have called a general strike for Thursday in response to the government's draft bill to revise the labour law, which is being debated in Social Dialogue and targets areas such as parenting and contract terms.

But what exactly is a strike, who is affected by the general strike, and what minimum services must be guaranteed?

Here are some questions and answers about the general strike:

+++ What is the right to strike? +++

The right to strike is an inalienable right, and the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic provides that it is up to workers to "define the scope of interests to be defended through strike action", and that this right cannot be limited.

Nevertheless, the law defines "the conditions for the provision, during the strike, of services necessary for the safety and maintenance of equipment and facilities, as well as minimum services indispensable for the satisfaction of essential social needs", and lockouts are also prohibited.

+++ Who has the power to call a strike? +++

The Labour Code stipulates that strikes may be called by trade unions or by a company's workers' assembly, "provided that trade unions do not represent the majority of workers, the assembly is called for this purpose by 20% or 200 workers, the majority of workers participate in the vote, and the decision is approved by secret ballot by the majority of voters."

+++ Can non-unionised workers join the general strike? ++++

Yes, all workers can join the general strike, regardless of whether they are in the public or private sector. However, to do so, advance notice of the strike must be given "to the employer or employers' association and to the ministry responsible for labour matters at least five working days in advance" or 10 working days in cases involving activities covered by minimum services.

Thus, the advance notice of a general strike submitted by the UGT and CGTP covers all employees whose unions are covered by them, regardless of the nature of their employment relationship or whether they are unionised.

In response to questions posed by Lusa, the CGTP said that the "strike notice covers workers and not unions" and "all sectors of activity", so it is "completely irrelevant whether there is union representation in companies" or whether workers belong to independent unions.

"However, it is normal for unions, even affiliated ones, to issue their own strike notice or join the CGTP-IN's strike notice as a way of expressing their support for the strike and, at the same time, giving workers additional assurance that the strike notices in fact cover them," adds an official source.

+++ Can a worker who is a member of one union join a strike called by another union? +++

Yes, provided that the strike "covers the company or sector of activity as well as the geographical scope of the company where the worker carries out their activity, which, in the case of the CGTP-IN notice, covers everyone," according to an information note published on the trade union's website.

+++ Does the worker have to inform the employer that they are going on strike? And can they be prevented from joining? +++

No, no worker is obliged to inform their employer that they are going on strike, even if asked to do so.

The employer cannot prevent the worker from going on strike, nor can they coerce, discriminate against or prejudice them for going on strike. It is considered a "very serious" administrative offence for an employer to coerce a worker not to join a strike, or to prejudice or discriminate against them for joining or not joining a strike.

+++ Is the strike day paid? +++

No, the strike "suspends the employment contract of participating workers, including the right to remuneration and the duties of subordination and attendance", according to the Labour Code.

++++ Can the company temporarily hire workers to replace strikers? +++

No, by law, during a strike, the employer cannot "replace strikers with people who, at the time of the prior notice, did not work at the respective establishment or service, nor can they, from that date, admit workers for that purpose".

On the other hand, the task assigned to the striking worker "cannot, during the strike, be performed by a company hired for that purpose, except in the event of non-compliance with the minimum services necessary to meet essential social needs or the safety and maintenance of equipment and facilities and to the extent strictly necessary to provide those services", and violation of these situations is considered a very serious administrative offence.

+++ Which sectors are covered by minimum services? ++++

The Labour Code currently provides that in the event of a strike, minimum services must be ensured "in companies or establishments intended to meet essential social needs", which include postal and telecommunications services; medical, hospital and pharmaceutical services; public health, including the provision of funeral services; energy and mining services, including fuel supply.

Also included are water supply, fire services, public services that ensure the satisfaction of essential needs for which the State is responsible; transport, including ports, airports, railway and bus stations, relating to passengers, animals and perishable foodstuffs and goods essential to the national economy, including loading and unloading; and the transport and security of monetary values.

The extension of the services covered by minimum services is, in fact, one of the measures proposed in the Government's draft revision of labour legislation.

JMF/ADB // ADB.

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