Through the voice of the Minister of the Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, the Government stated that “the overwhelming majority of the country is working”, highlighting that it respects those who exercise the right to strike. “We always maintain the same openness to dialogue”, he said about the draft reform of labor legislation, which is why CGTP and UGT called for a general strike this Thursday, December 11th.
Leitão Amaro reinforced that, “realistically”, the “overwhelming majority of workers in the country are working”. “The country is working”, he stressed.
He also said that “this seems more like a civil service strike, a partial strike in some sectors of the public service”. He recognized, however, the impact on transport, such as assistants in schools, to “impact many more”.
“The level of adherence throughout the country to the general strike is insignificant, particularly in the private and social sector”, considered Leitão Amaro. “The reported level of adherence is insignificant. The vast majority of Portuguese people are working”, highlighted the Minister of the Presidency.
Leitão Amaro then gave two indicators to justify the argument that the level of support for the general strike is “insignificant”. “Transactions at SIBS demonstrate whether the country is maintaining financial transactions, its commercial and economic activity is, at the moment, reduced by 7% compared to the normal period. Traffic on the bridges, from the south to Lisbon, is falling by 5%”, he explained.
According to the ruler, “in the private and social sectors, the existing report is of adherence between 0 and 10%”. “This strike is having an insignificant response. The Portuguese are working”he emphasized, recognizing disruptions in some sectors and services.