The Minister of Labor considers that the President of the Republic empowered and legitimized the UGT not to conclude an agreement in social consultation to change the Labor Law. In the presidential campaign, António José Seguro said he would veto the diploma if the Government and social partners did not reach an agreement.
In the list of reasons for there not being an agreement in social consultation on the labor law, the Government also includes the contribution of António José Seguro.
“I understand that the position of the then candidate for the Presidency of the Republic empowered the UGT, in the sense that it made it unnecessary to reach an agreement, since it would win the case,” said Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho on the program from Antenna 1.
The Minister of Labor, Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho, refers to the words of António José Seguro in December last year, when it was still just candidate to the Presidency of the Republic.
“If there is no agreement in social consultation, would you politically veto this law? My tendency is in that direction”, said António José Seguro on the podcast from Expresso.
The Minister does not doubt António José Seguro’s good intentions, she only understands that failed dismally: “I think they had the opposite effect to what he intended. Instead of serving to encourage the agreement, they ended up legitimizing the UGT not to celebrate it”he said.
During the electoral campaign, António José Seguro spoke several times about the subject, in a position that had several nuances: “If the Government’s initial decree arrives, I will veto it politically. It does not solve any problems and will only create more instability. I expect there to be dialogue between all partners. I will look at the final decree”he stated in one of the debates.
Now it only guarantees that the President’s decision will be consistent with the candidate’s words. For the rest, absolute silence.
