Viana do Castelo, Portugal, March 16, 2026 (Lusa) – The leader of the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) accused the Government on Monday of violating the constitution by not discussing the labour package with the general confederation of Portuguese workers (CGTP), stating that the right "of workers' organisations to participate in the preparation of labour legislation" is at stake.
"The Government is wrong to seek manoeuvres. The Government is wrong to resort to everything, starting with a gross violation of the constitution, trying to leave the CGTP out of the discussion of this labour package," said Paulo Raimundo in a speech at the opening session of the PCP's parliamentary conference in Viana do Castelo.
The communist leader stated that the labour package was "rejected at the general strike, in workplaces, on the streets" and "after being rejected it only has one possible destination, which is its withdrawal once and for all."
Paulo Raimundo argued that the labour package belongs to the government, but also to the Liberal Initiative (IL) and Chega, and "intends to further aggravate a law that already harms workers a lot and, in particular, younger people."
"The Government wants to impose the labour package, the workers' struggle will define its defeat. Defeat the labour package and open the way for what is required and for what should be under discussion at this moment and not the aggravation of the workers' situation," the PCP leader added.
For Raimundo, instead of this Government proposal, the "revocation of the harmful rules of current legislation" and the defence and protection of those who work and "make the country function" should be under discussion.
"All these people need higher wages, they need more time to live, they need rights, they need stability in their lives, everything contrary to the orders of the employers and the option of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), the CDS – People's Party (CDS-PP), IL and Chega," he stressed.
In a previous speech, the PCP parliamentary leader, Paula Santos, made similar criticisms, stating that the executive is carrying out a "blackmail operation" by "trying to impose the labour package" and violating the constitution by disregarding the "constitutional right of the participation of workers' organisations" by refusing to discuss it with the "most representative trade union confederation of workers."
"In an anti-democratic attitude, which says a lot about the government's true intentions," she added.
A CGTP delegation will travel on Monday to the Ministry of Labour, at the scheduled time of the meeting between the government, the General Workers' Union (UGT) and the four business confederations, to "reaffirm the proposals and solutions for labour legislation."
The Minister of Labour called the UGT and the four business confederations to a meeting with the aim of resuming negotiations on changes to the labour law, following the appeal made by the President of the Republic after the "breakdown" announced by the employers, with the CGTP once again not being invited to the meeting.
The PCP begins a two-day parliamentary conference in the district of Viana do Castelo on Monday under the motto "Rights, Production and Development", with initiatives centred on contact with workers and local institutions.
TS/LYT // AYLS
Lusa
