Lisbon witnessed a massive wave of protests as tens of thousands of demonstrators flooded the streets to oppose proposed labour reforms by Portugal’s centre-right government. The reforms, which aim to enhance job flexibility and productivity, include measures that would simplify the process of firing employees, allow greater outsourcing of work, and reduce certain types of compassionate leave, such as bereavement leave for women who experience miscarriages. Critics argue that these changes severely undermine workers’ rights and job security. Tiago Oliveira, general secretary of Portugal’s largest union, CGTP, condemned the reforms as ‘one of the greatest attacks ever made against workers’ and announced a general strike scheduled for December 11. The bill is expected to pass in parliament with backing from the far-right party Chega. Protesters, including medical device worker Miriam Alves and archive technician Madalena Pena, expressed concerns that the reforms would reverse decades of progress in labour rights and worsen job security. Additionally, demonstrators demanded higher wages, citing official data showing that over 50% of workers earned less than 1,000 euros per month in 2023, with the minimum wage set at just 870 euros. The protests highlight growing discontent over economic inequality and the government’s perceived disregard for workers’ welfare.