Brussels, 27/09/2013 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 25 September, Portugal's constitutional court introduced a new obstacle to the country's bailout plan negotiated with international lenders, by ruling that various measures to facilitate redundancy are legally flawed.
The measures are part of a major reform of labour laws laid down by the troika of lenders (the European Commission, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund), which were introduced by the Portuguese parliament in May 2012. The court rejected a measure that would have allowed employers to sack workers on the grounds that they are “not adapted” for the job. The court says it is for employers to first find out whether another job might suit the worker's skills. Portuguese deputy prime minister with responsibility for relations with the troika Paulo Portas welcomed the fact that the other measures had been deemed constitutional, but admitted that the series of rejections of legislation by the court raised eyebrows, especially abroad. The supreme judges had already rejected a number of measures governing redundancy in the public sector and part of the country's budget for 2013. The court has yet to rule on an appeal lodged by the socialists on extension of the working week from 35 to 40 hours for civil servants.
Each time, the government has had to introduce new measures to satisfy the troika, and this is what is being discussed now with troika experts in Lisbon. The Commission refused to comment officially on the court ruling on Friday, simply stating that it was for the Portuguese authorities to say how they planned to proceed. (SP/transl.fl)