5th meeting of Portuguese-speaking trade unionists, advisers and association leaders in Europe

Since 1992, the CGTP-IN and the OGBL have organized a meeting in Luxembourg between trade unionists, community advisers and leaders of Portuguese-speaking associations in Europe. The fifth edition was held on November 11 and 12 at CEFOS in Remich.

The CGTP delegation included Fernando Gomes and João Barreiros, both members of the Executive Committee, and trade unionists representing several specific sectors. The CGTP General Secretary, Isabel Camarinha, participated via videoconference from Lisbon.

The OGBL was represented by its President Nora Back, Carlos Pereira and David Angel from the Executive Board, as well as Eduardo Dias and Sónia Neves from the Immigrants’ Department, among other members and trade union activists.

Also present were representatives of Portuguese political parties, leaders of the Portuguese-speaking associative movement in Luxembourg, members of the CCP-Conseil des Communautés Portugaises (the Portuguese government’s advisory body on emigration issues) and trade unionists from SPE-Syndicat des Professeurs Portugais à l’Etranger, UNIA (Switzerland), IGMETALL (Germany), CIG France, CIG-Galicie (Spain) and UNTC-CS (Cape Verde).

Non-stop Portuguese immigration

Carlos Pereira addressed the issue of Portuguese immigration to Luxembourg, which has been constant for 60 years. He recalled that “the first Portuguese had a rather low level of education. Those who arrive today are highly qualified. These are two very different experiences of immigration”. He is pleased to note that Portuguese nationals are now better integrated and present in all sectors of activity, from construction to cleaning, from commerce to health, from education to finance, and even in the civil service.

A minimum wage of 1,000 euros by 2025

João Barreiros explained that in Portugal, “around 935,000 workers have to (over)live on a minimum wage of 760 euros, which in reality means a net salary of 676 euros. That’s not enough to live with dignity today! Two out of three workers earn less than 1,000 euros per month. This reflects a policy of low wages and precarious work that drives workers, especially young people, to emigrate”. Portugal’s minimum wage will rise to 820 euros in January 2024. For the CGTP, this is insufficient given the loss of workers’ purchasing power. The union is demanding a general wage increase of 15% and a minimum wage of 910 euros in 2024 and 1,000 euros in 2025.

João Barreiros also criticized the European Commission for its “neoliberal policies, which attack the rights of workers, migrants and refugees and have destroyed national production, industry, fishing and agriculture. At the same time, there is less investment in public services and the social functions of the state, hospitals are being closed and there is a shortage of teachers in the country’s schools”.

Joaquina Almeida of the UNTC-CS also expressed concern about the massive emigration from Cape Verde. Youth unemployment is at 40% among 15-34 year olds, prompting them to come to Europe, mostly as cheap labor. For the archipelago, this means losing its young people. Attracted by better salaries in Europe or short-term jobs, “Cape Verdeans are condemned to emigration,” laments the leader. In fact, the country has a population of half a million, but three times as many live abroad.

In his speech, Eduardo Dias criticized the Portuguese state’s lack of investment in Portuguese language courses abroad for the children of emigrants. There used to be 56 Portuguese teachers in Luxembourg,” he recalled, “but today, with many more students, there are far fewer teachers. He also called on the Portuguese authorities to better inform emigrant associations about the aid they can apply for from the Portuguese state.

Inter-union solidarity and struggle

CGTP General Secretary Isabel Camarinha defended a “general struggle at international level for higher wages”. She is concerned about the fall of the Portuguese government in early November, as the right and the extreme right join forces in the run-up to the general elections in March 2024. In this context, the leader referred to the 50th anniversary of the Carnation Revolution, on April 25, 2024, as a reminder that her trade union will reject any “fascist policies” of whatever future government.

OGBL President Nora Back agreed that the fight against low wages must be pursued both nationally and internationally. “We need to strengthen trade union solidarity across borders” at a time when wars and crises are being used by employers as an excuse to undermine the social achievements of workers around the world. “We must defend these rights, fight austerity and social dumping and demand more investment in social policies.”

Resolution

Fernando Gomes explained the resolution adopted during the meeting. The document, which will be presented to the Portuguese government, calls, among other things, for a better defense of the rights and integration of Portuguese people abroad; a cooperation, immigration and asylum policy that respects human rights; the criminalization of the exploitation of workers; greater coordination between labor inspectorates in the EU; “better combating precariousness in the face of rampant neoliberalism”.

With 25% of its population emigrating, Portugal is the EU country with the highest rate of emigration. For the CGTP and OGBL, Portugal must focus on creating jobs in productive sectors to meet the new skills of young people and prevent them from emigrating.

In 2019, the Portuguese government launched a program to encourage people to return home (“Programa Regressar”), an initiative that has had little success because the measures proposed are very inadequate, according to the two unions.

Prior to the meeting, the CGTP and OGBL Commerce, Building and Cleaning Syndicates held bilateral meetings. Each side presented the current situation in their respective sectors in Portugal and Luxembourg, as well as the trade union, political and social struggles that lie ahead.

The article was published in the December edition of Aktuell.