A study published in November 2001 analyses official statistics on the earnings of technical and scientific staff in Portugal. It finds that the differential between the salaries of employees with different level of qualifications is decreasing. Furthermore, while there is a discrepancy between the
During summer 2001, the Portuguese social partners held a number of seminars to discuss the issue of including gender equality matters in collective bargaining. Notably, attempts were made to outline new bargaining strategies to eliminate wage inequality between men and women.
Portugal's RMG guaranteed minimum income scheme marked its fourth anniversary in July 2001. The government took the opportunity to announce that RMG recipients are to be offered jobs or training, and that a study will be launched to examine the social and occupational progress of former
In May 2001, the Portuguese government approved its new National Action Plan (NAP) for employment, drawn up with the involvement of the social partners (which also have a role in its implementation). Key aims of the NAP include: the intensification of the fight against illegal work; the promotion of
Over 1998-2000, the Portuguese national broadcasting company, RTP, ran an experimental project aimed at improving the reconciliation of work and family life, including new working time arrangements. In early 2001, negotiations are underway to introduce some of the initiatives on a permanent basis
In January 2001, a new law was adopted on immigrant workers in Portugal, which will make it easier for immigrants in employment to gain residence rights and allow illegal immigrants to regularise their situation. However, difficulties in applying the law have already led the authorities to
Statistics issued in November 2000 indicate that illegal child labour on industrial premises has decreased in Portugal. However, research reveals that at the same time many tasks, once performed at industrial workplaces, are now being performed by children at home. Public authorities and trade
In autumn 2000, a number of major construction projects in Northern Portugal have highlighted health and safety problems in this sector, which trade unions attribute partly to precarious and illegal employment and the use of large numbers of immigrant workers. Negotiations between the social
A recent study indicates that teleworking is still extremely limited in Portugal - a fact that may explain why this form of work has only recently begun to make its appearance on the social partners' agendas and why businesses have not shown any evidence of taking a strategic viewpoint on the issue
Despite a current low level of unemployment, Portugal's labour market faces a problem of low qualification levels and low-skilled jobs. A key factor is the high drop-out rate from school and the lack of links between the worlds of education and work. A report from the Employment and Vocational