The Left Bloc (Bloco de Esquerda) has announced that it will bring forward a motion in the Azorean Parliament this month seeking a formal rejection of the labor reform package proposed by Portugal’s PSD/CDS government, arguing that the measures would have significant negative consequences for workers across the archipelago.
Speaking after a meeting with the Azores branch of the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) in Ponta Delgada, Left Bloc deputy António Lima said the issue is too important to be ignored by either the Regional Government or the parties represented in the Legislative Assembly of the Azores.
According to the Left Bloc, the proposed labor package would increase job insecurity, reintroduce individual time-bank arrangements that allow employees to work additional hours without immediate compensation, facilitate the use of outsourcing arrangements to replace workers, and weaken protections against unlawful dismissals. The party also argues that the proposed changes would create additional challenges for workers seeking to balance professional and family responsibilities.
António Lima described the proposal as a one-sided reform designed primarily to benefit employers at the expense of workers. He criticized the absence of measures addressing what he considers the real challenges facing the labor market, including work-life balance, working-time reduction, and the implications of technological change, particularly artificial intelligence and digital labor platforms.
“None of these issues are addressed,” Lima argued, characterizing the proposal as a step backward that favors large corporations while failing to respond to the evolving realities of work in the twenty-first century.
The deputy stressed that the proposed reforms deserve full public debate within the Azores, given their potential impact on the Region’s workforce.
“This is far too important a matter not to be debated in the Azores,” Lima stated, adding that political parties represented in the Regional Parliament should publicly clarify their positions on the issue.
The Left Bloc also questioned the silence of the Regional Government and President José Manuel Bolieiro regarding the proposed reforms. According to António Lima, the absence of a public position may be interpreted as agreement with or support for the measures under discussion.
The party noted that it had previously raised the issue during the May plenary session of the Legislative Assembly, where it directly questioned the President of the Regional Government about the labor package. According to the Bloc, no substantive response was provided.
Lima argued that such silence requires explanation, particularly given what he described as widespread opposition from labor organizations and workers. The party points to recent labor actions and public opinion surveys that, it says, demonstrate significant resistance to the proposed reforms among Portuguese workers.
The Left Bloc further expressed concern about what it described as inconsistent positions taken by some political parties regarding the labor package, arguing that the issue requires clear and transparent debate.
The motion expected to be presented in the Azorean Parliament seeks to ensure that the Legislative Assembly formally expresses its position on the proposed labor reforms and their potential impact on workers in the Autonomous Region of the Azores.
The debate is likely to become part of a broader national discussion about labor relations, workers’ rights, productivity, and economic competitiveness, issues that continue to generate significant political and social debate throughout Portugal.
Adapted from a story in Correio dos Açores–Photos from the Left Bloc’s Facebook page.