LISBON, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's two main labor confederations staged a nationwide strike on Thursday, affecting sectors, including transport, healthcare, education, and public services.
According to local media reports, the strike, backed by the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) and the Portuguese General Workers' Union (UGT), marks the first joint action by the rival unions since 2013. It also reflects mounting opposition to the government's proposed overhaul of labor rules.
The move has already prompted airlines, hospitals, and schools to prepare contingency plans, with authorities expecting widespread disruption despite minimum service requirements.
Portugal's flag carrier TAP has canceled multiple flights, allowing passengers to rebook without fees. Unions representing pilots, cabin crew, ground handling workers, and rail staff have joined the strike, and metro services in both Lisbon and Porto have also been affected.
Health officials say surgeries and consultations in the public system have been postponed, while teachers' unions have reported significant school closures. Banks, telecom operators, insurers, and auto manufacturers have also taken part in the walkout.
A Xinhua reporter on the scene observed that airport and metro hubs - usually packed with passengers - are far less crowded, with some stations almost empty. As public transport came to a halt, taxi fares more than doubled.
The strike is a response to a government reform package unveiled in July, which includes more than 100 amendments to the labor code. The proposals expand the use of outsourcing and fixed-term contracts, modify dismissal rules, and introduce individual working-time banks. Unions argue the changes erode worker protections and facilitate precarious employment, while the center-right government contends they modernize the labor market and support job creation.
Officials say minimum service guarantees will be enforced to limit disruption, but union leaders accuse the government of attempting to curtail the right to strike by expanding the range of sectors covered by mandatory staffing, including childcare, elderly care, and food supply. The labor ministry has said it does not expect to invoke civil requisition powers, but pledged to "minimize impacts on essential services."
The strike follows a series of demonstrations in recent months and comes shortly after parliament approved the 2026 state budget, clearing the legislative path for the labor reform to move forward.
According to Lusa News Agency, CGTP Secretary-General Tiago Oliveira said he expects "strong participation" in the strikes, particularly in health, education, and transport, and argued that the outcome would improve unions' negotiating leverage.
Prime Minister Luis Montenegro described the strike as "incomprehensible," arguing that it serves political interests rather than those of workers, and warning that a general strike would only create instability and penalize workers themselves. He stressed that the labor-reform package is still under negotiation and "not closed," calling for responsibility from the unions.
Presidency Minister Antonio Leitao Amaro said Thursday that the nationwide strike has had minimal impact, stressing that "the overwhelming majority of the country is working." Nevertheless, he added that the government respects the right to strike and remains open to dialogue on the draft labor law reform. ■