Collective bargaining recovers 
in Portugal

The latest figures from the Portuguese ministry of labour show a continuing recovery in the extent of collective bargaining in the country.


Last year, 220 collective agreements were signed, covering more than 900,000 employees. 


This figure is well below the numbers recorded before the economic crisis: for example, in 2008 there were 296 agreements covering almost 1.9 million employees. 


Nevertheless, it is a substantial improvement on the worst years following the crisis, when collective bargaining itself was seen by some to be under threat. 


For example, in 2012, when bargaining activity was at its lowest, only 85 agreements were signed, covering 328,000 workers. Since then the recovery has been fairly steady, with a 10% increase in the number of workers covered between 2017 and 2018. 


Labour minister Miguel Cabrito said the figures were “a reflection of a trend of sustained recovery in collective bargaining we have come to know over the last few years”.