WEDNESDAY BRIEFING

 Behind this week’s headlines

 

Unemployment low

The number of unemployed people in Portugal in February had fallen by 8.3% from February 2022. This was “the second lowest ever” for the month, the ministry of labour, solidarity and social security said on Monday.

 

Public protesting

As in many cities across the world, mass street demonstrations have been continuing in Lisbon.  Among other things, thousands of Portuguese protestors are demanding higher wages and a cap on soaring food prices.  Official statistics show that more than 50% of workers earned less than €1,000 ($1,067) per month last year. Families are struggling to make ends meet in one of Western Europe’s poorest countries.

 

Teachers seek EC help

Teachers’ unions are asking the European Commission to help solve their dispute with the government over pay, promotions and careers. The unions are discussing the dispute in the European Commission’s Lisbon office today.

 

UK and US airlines

EasyJet cabin staff in Portugal are planning a three-day strike, 1 to 3 in April. Like other strikers, they are demanding higher pay and better working conditions.

Meanwhile, the American airline, Delta, has announced it’s going to resume flights between Lisbon and Boston, Massachusetts, from 9 May to 2t October.  

 

Drug smuggling seizures

The national maritime authority (AMN) has so far sized more drugs in the first three months of this year than in the whole of 2022. More than 20 tonnes have been seized and 31 suspected traffickers arrested.

 

Wildfire fighters

A group of German fire-fighters have come to the city of Vila Real in the north of Portugal to exchange information and experiences with Portuguese fire-fighters on tactics to be used to cope with forest wildfires - a relative new problem in Germany - as well as in urban areas.   

 

Rugby Union final

While most international rugby union fans would have been focused more on Ireland’s Grand Slam win over England in the Six Nations Championship last weekend, Portugal finished second in the European Cup final after being defeated by Georgia 38-11.