The revision of the Labor Code in Portugal consumed 287 days of negotiations in social dialogue venues, equivalent to about nine and a half months, with at least 53 meetings between social partners. It was possible to reach an understanding to rewrite 138 norms, but the process ended with disagreement on six changes where there was no agreement.
After social dialogue, the Government's proposal was in the Assembly of the Republic for 32 days, under discussion among the different parliamentary benches, until the debate on June 18 and rejection the following day. In total, ten and a half months of work on this matter are accounted for.
The article states that, regardless of the analyses of the reasons for disagreement in social dialogue and parliamentary rejection, it was demonstrated that there is understanding about the need to make 138 changes to labor legislation. The political framework with a minority-supported government in parliament, conducive to tactics, and internal issues of each participant are mentioned as obstacles.
Labor legislation will indeed change, the article concludes, due to the transposition of European directives, even if no national understanding is achieved. The article calls for, at least, that the changes be framed, considering that it makes no sense to throw away the work carried out by the Government, social partners, and parties with parliamentary seats.
