Going on a general strike now seems like “making fun of those who work”

President of SEDES criticizes UGT and PS about the fact that there was no agreement on labor law.

There was no agreement in the Social Concertation regarding the changes that the Government wants to make to labor law. Some 60 meetings later, Thursday’s meeting was the last – and .

The UGT – General Union of Workers said that the CIP – Portuguese Business Confederation did not present any new proposal. Mário Mourão criticized the Government for undermining confidence during negotiations with a “constant advance and retreat” in proposals.

The Minister of Labor, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, accused the UGT of intransigence; said that the trade union federation led by Mário Mourão “did not give in on any point”. “One of the partners was absolutely intransigent.”

Alvaro Belezapresident of the Association for Economic and Social Development (HEADQUARTERS), also leaves direct criticisms of the UGT – and the PS: “I think, unfortunatelypart of the PS and even the UGT were contaminated by the neo-Marxist contraption virus”.

Although he also talks about a virus in the Government: “But I also think that this Government was contaminated by a populist Chega virusvery bad for the country’s economy, which has to do with immigrants, with immigration”.

On the radio, Álvaro Beleza says he only sees one explanation to this outcome: “Those were the years of the contraption, I think the contraption contaminated some PS and some UGT”.

In a global analysis, the leader of SEDES warns that, following the lack of agreement on the new labor law, “who comes out worse is the country. This is bad for the country’s future, it’s bad for wage growth, it’s bad for attracting our young people to stay in Portugal and not go to other countries. Portugal is one of the countries with the greatest labor rigidity, it needed to have an improvement in labor laws. I think more flexibility is absolutely necessary, labor legislation is very strict.”

Regarding the date scheduled for June 3rd, Álvaro Beleza is completely against the chosen moment: “We have a war in the Gulf, we have oil rising, Do you think we are ready to launch general strikes? and to break off negotiations? This reminds me of that famous comedian’s program, it seems like It’s making fun of those who work. I think it takes judgment, common sense and understanding.”

Meanwhile, on the radio, the Minister of Labor assures two points: “The Government does not consider itself defeated, of course” and “Certainly There is life beyond labor reform.”