Portugal ground to a halt on December 11, 2025, as the nation witnessed its largest general strike in more than a decade, with millions of workers walking off the job in a dramatic protest against sweeping labor reforms proposed by Prime Minister Luis Montenegro’s minority government. The strike, called jointly by the country’s two main trade union confederations—the communist-leaning General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP) and the more moderate General Workers’ Union (UGT)—sent shockwaves through every corner of Portuguese society, from bustling city centers to sleepy rural outposts.
According to AFP, the disruption was immediate and widespread. Lisbon’s iconic metro stations were shuttered, ferries and trains ran on skeleton schedules, and departure boards at the capital’s airport flashed a sea of cancellations. National carrier TAP Air Portugal scrapped more than 200 flights, and other airlines like Ryanair followed suit, leaving passengers stranded in long queues and facing uncertainty about their travel plans. The usually lively downtown Lisbon was eerily quiet, with few pedestrians and noticeably less traffic as many residents either joined the strike or worked from home to dodge the chaos.
The impact wasn’t limited to transportation. Schools across most regions closed their doors, forcing families to scramble for childcare. Hospitals, too, operated at bare minimum levels, with many non-urgent services postponed and only emergency care available. Even the country’s largest car factory—a Volkswagen Group plant in Setubal—came to a standstill, as reported by AFP. Trash collection services were interrupted in several municipalities, and private companies, from manufacturing to retail, reported partial shutdowns or reduced staff.
Unions estimated that more than three million workers participated in the walkout, a figure that represents over half of Portugal’s 5.5 million-strong workforce. As reported by MixVale, this level of mobilization marked the biggest general strike since the tumultuous days of 2013, when Portugal was under the watchful eye of the International Monetary Fund and the European Union during a debt crisis. “We are seeing workers demand that the government withdraw this labor (reform) package,” declared Tiago Oliveira, head of the CGTP, to the Associated Press. He added, “The strike says a lot about the government’s attack and this is the response of the workers.”
But the government downplayed the strike’s reach. António Leitão Amaro, Minister for the Cabinet, insisted in comments to AP that “most Portuguese are at work,” characterizing the walkout as a “partial strike in certain areas of the public sector.” The government argued that the labor reforms—bundled under the banner "Trabalho XXI" and comprising more than 100 proposed changes to the labor code—were necessary to “stimulate economic growth and pay better salaries,” as Prime Minister Montenegro put it. The administration cited Portugal’s recent economic performance as justification: the European Commission expects GDP to grow by about 2% in 2025, with unemployment under 6%, roughly matching the European Union average.
Yet union leaders and many workers saw the reforms quite differently. The proposed law would make it easier for companies to fire employees, extend the length of fixed-term contracts, and expand the minimum services required during strikes. Other contested measures include limiting breastfeeding breaks for mothers to the first two years of a baby’s life, reducing bereavement leave in cases of miscarriage, and allowing greater use of outsourcing after collective layoffs. The government also aims to deny the right to strike in additional sectors of the economy and increase trial periods in contracts, while reducing compensation in certain dismissal situations.
“These reforms are among the biggest attacks on the world of work,” CGTP secretary general Tiago Oliveira told AFP. He warned that around 1.3 million Portuguese workers are already in insecure positions, and the new measures would only worsen job precariousness. History teacher Vanessa Oliveira, marching with thousands of others in Lisbon, voiced fears that “if this reform is approved, we will plunge into an economic crisis. Workers will no longer be protected.”
Protests erupted in about 20 cities, including Porto, Coimbra, Braga, and Faro, with the largest demonstration taking place in Lisbon. Marchers carried banners decrying the “brutal attack” on labor rights and chanted, “No to the labor code reform!” and “We won’t back down!” According to MixVale, union leaders used the rallies to emphasize the need to safeguard historic labor achievements, while left-leaning political parties expressed solidarity with the strikers. Despite the high emotions, police reported that the demonstrations ended peacefully, and essential services gradually returned to normal by the end of the day.
The government, for its part, continued to defend the reforms as vital for modernizing Portugal’s labor market and attracting investment. Negotiations between union leaders and government officials remain ongoing, with unions demanding the removal of what they see as unacceptable points in the legislation. The government has signaled some openness to adjustments but remains committed to the core of its proposal. As noted by MixVale, some economists caution that the country’s recent economic growth—2.4% in 2025—relies in part on temporary European funds, suggesting that the reforms may be aimed at preparing for a less certain financial future.
Portugal’s labor market is among the least lucrative in the European Union. The National Statistics Institute reports that the average monthly wage stands at about 1,600 euros (before tax), while the minimum wage is 870 euros—both well below the EU average. Compounding the pressure, the country faces a persistent housing and cost-of-living crisis, with property prices soaring and inflation hovering just above 2%. For hundreds of thousands of Portuguese, these economic realities have heightened anxieties about job security and the future of hard-won labor rights.
The December 11 strike was more than just a protest against a specific set of legal changes—it was a test of the minority government’s ability to push through controversial reforms in a deeply divided country. With parliamentary support uncertain and public opinion split, the fate of "Trabalho XXI" remains in the balance. For now, the massive turnout and the peaceful determination of Portugal’s workers have sent a clear message: the debate over the nation’s labor future is far from settled.
