Lisbon, Jan. 23, 2026 (Lusa) - The Portuguese trade union confederation, CGTP has called for a national demonstration on 28 February in Lisbon and Porto against the government's proposed revision of labour legislation and promises to "continue the fight", announced the leader of the trade union confederation.
"On 28 February, we will hold a large decentralised national demonstration in Lisbon and Porto to continue the fight against this labour package," said CGTP leader Tiago Oliveira at a press conference on Thursday evening after the trade union confederation held its National Council meeting.
Strike notices will be issued to allow workers who are currently working to attend the demonstration, he said.
Asked whether contacts had been maintained with the UGT union confederation, with a view to possible joint action, the CGTP leader said that, after the general strike on 11 December, no contacts had been made and reiterated that "at the end of this whole process" each trade union centre would "take responsibility" for the "path it will follow".
Recalling the general strike on 11 December and other actions already taken, Tiago Oliveira said that the trade union would do "everything" to "combat the government's intention" to make changes to labour legislation and to "give a voice to workers, considering that the government's proposal is a profound assault on workers' rights".
The CGTP National Council also decided to "carry out a general mobilisation action, for higher wages and rights for a dignified life, against the increase in the cost of living and for the withdrawal of the labour package", which will begin on 9 February and aims to hold plenary sessions, street actions, rallies, demonstrations and [sectoral] actions" that will lead to the preparation and "mobilisation of workers" for the national demonstration, he added.
The CGTP leader also accused the government of not wanting to seek "any kind of consensus" and of "exacerbating the difficulties" of workers. He criticised the position conveyed on Wednesday by the minister of labour that the government intends to submit the amendments to the labour law to parliament, even though it has not committed to a deadline.
"We do not have a government that wants to discuss. We do not have a government that wants to be open to any kind of negotiation," he criticised, stating that the government led by Luís Montenegro "has a political agenda" that aims to "assault workers' rights".
Tiago Oliveira on Thursday again rejected the accusations made by the minister of labour, who has said that "the CGTP has placed itself on the sidelines of the negotiations" and noted several dates to demonstrate the trade union's willingness to negotiate, referring in particular to the sending of a letter to the prime minister on 9 April 2024 with "the issues that should be reviewed in labour legislation" and the bilateral meeting they had with Palma Ramalho (the minister of labour, solidarity and social security) on 3 September 2025, where they presented their "position on the role of labour".
"This timeline clearly shows that, from the outset, the CGTP has presented the government with its own assessment of the changes needed to labour legislation," he said, reaffirming the demand for the withdrawal of the proposed labour package.
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