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Country: Portugal

Period: 2001

Title of the pact:  Agreement on Employment Policy, the Labour Market, and Education and Training

Negotiating Parties:  Government, General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – Cross-Union (CGTP-IN), the General Workers’ Union (UGT), The Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP), the Confederation of Portuguese Trade and Services (CCP), The Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP)

Goals of the pact: Setting a framework for comprehensive training policy for enhancing the quality and sustainability of employment and for raising the competitiveness of workers

Matters agreed:

• Promotion of quality in training and skill accreditation
  • Agreement of strategic objectives and priorities on training and employment
  • Establishment of a tripartite Consultative Council for Professional Training (CCFP) with a concrete mandate (consultative and monitoring functions, holding regular quarterly plenary meetings, promotion of the harmonisation of various training and qualification programmes)
  • Consolidation of the National Certification System of acquired skills
  • Re-evaluation of the existing system of training programmes
  • Creation of reliable operational indicators to assess employment practices and training
• Active measures for professional training development
  • Improving access and quality of education and training for adults, especially those socially disadvantaged
  • Development of a system of on-going professional training to enhance company competitiveness and introduce support measures and incentives
  • Promotion of preventive management measures in situations of company crisis (e.g. retraining of potentially displaced workers)
    • Promotion of professional training programmes for sectors undergoing profound economic restructuring
• Initial training and transition to employment
  • Development of open, flexible education and training systems
  • Introduction of a training clause in the labour contracts of young people under 18 years old entering the labour market
    • Labour contracts signed by the employer should always designate a period for training during working hours.
    • The employer may assume the responsibility for training or delegate to the Institute for Employment and Professional Training (IEFP)
    • Training shall last a total minimum of 1,000 hours, 200-300 hours every four months within a system of flexible training time management.
    • Financial assistance (through compensation of social security tax payments and other charges) is provided for such professional training measures for young people
• Increase the levels of employment quality

Institutions involved: Standing Committee for Social Dialogue (CPCS) in the Economic and Social Council

Follow-up: A monthly follow up of the execution of the agreement, undertaken by the tripartite workgroup, established in the CPCS.

Background: A decade after the 1991 Agreement on training, after 10 months of negotiation in the tripartite working group established by the CPCS, a new agreement was reached.  

Impact: If agreements are effectively implemented, they will lead to institutional changes with social dialogue as a key factor.

Comments: This pact was singed by the government and all of the main social partner orgnaisations.

Full text of the agreement: Available for purchase at http://www.ces.pt/html/e_main.htm