Thousands of people marched through the streets of central Lisbon on Thursday (December 11) during the first general strike in Portugal in more than a decade, protesting against proposed labour reforms.

The minority centre-right government says the proposed changes - amending more than 100 labour-code articles - aim to boost productivity and spur economic growth. But unions accuse it of tilting power toward employers at the expense of workers’ rights, despite a strong economy and low unemployment.

Protesters carried signs reading "No to the labour package" and "Firing without reason is doing the boss's bidding."

"They are forgetting that workers are human beings and not machines, that's what I feel is happening," teacher Helena Monteiro, 50, said as she marched from Rossio Square in central Lisbon.

The bill, yet to be submitted to parliament, is expected to pass with backing from the far-right Chega party.

Called by the largest unions CGTP and UGT, the one-day action is the first general strike since June 2013, when Portugal was under harsh austerity measures imposed by an international bailout that cut wages and lifted taxes.

The labour reforms envision easing just-cause dismissals in small- and medium-sized businesses and lifting limits on outsourcing. Other contentious measures include capping flexible-work rights for breastfeeding mothers at two years.

The government has refused to back down and insists the changes will ultimately benefit all Portuguese. Prime Minister Luis Montenegro pledged on Wednesday (December 10) that his administration "will not give up on being reformist and transformative."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

LISBON, PORTUGAL (DECEMBER 11, 2025) (SIC - No use Portugal)

1. VARIOUS OF PEOPLE MARCHING DURING GENERAL STRIKE HOLDING BANNER READING (Portuguese) “AGAINST LABOUR PACKAGE” AND “GENERAL STRIKE”

2. PROTESTER SHOUTING

3. SIGN READING (Portuguese) “NO TO THE LABOUR PACKAGE”

4. PROTESTER MARCHING AND SIGN READING (Portuguese) “GENERAL STRIKE” IN THE BACKGROUND

5. PROTESTERS MARCHING / GENERAL STRIKE BANNER

LISBON, PORTUGAL (DECEMBER 11, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) TEACHER, HELENA MONTEIRO, 50, SAYING:

“There is a general dehumanisation, that's what's happening. They are forgetting that workers are human beings and not machines, that's what I feel is happening.”

7. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) UNEMPLOYED, HUGO VALE, 40, SAYING:

“I am here to express myself, to express my opposition to this labour package bill, because it seems to me that the government is declaring war on social peace.”

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Portuguese) LISBON RESIDENT AND ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT AT A UNIVERSITY, RAFAELA JESUS, 25, SAYING:

"It (the labour reform) gives privileges to those who already have privileges and ends up harming those who are already harmed."

LISBON, PORTUGAL (DECEMBER 11, 2025) (SIC - No use Portugal)

9. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING

10. PROTESTER HOLDING RED CARNATION

11. BANNER READING (Portuguese) “We are all migrants”

12. PROTESTERS MARCHING

13. TOURIST FILMING PROTEST

14. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GREETING FORMER COMMUNIST PARTY LEADER JERONIMO DE SOUSA

15. VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS MARCHING