Cotrim Figueiredo argues that the flexibilization of labor rules "will have to happen."

Refusing to offer an opinion on the draft reform of labor legislation presented by the Government, which he postponed until he could conduct a "more detailed study" of it, Cotrim Figueiredo considered that the planned flexibility would have to happen "sooner or later".

"Just think about the absolutely sudden way in which certain professions are changing. The existence and emergence of some professions, the disappearance of others, the profound alteration of how certain professions are performed – all this will happen at a much faster pace, I dare say, than the law itself will be able to keep up with," the presidential candidate told Lusa.

Speaking on the sidelines of the presentation of his book "Why I am a Liberal - The Journey of an Accidental Politician," published by Zigurate and presented today in Porto, Cotrim Figueiredo therefore considered it "absolutely fundamental that it [the law] be truly flexible and accommodate various forms of work, various ways of providing labor services."

However, he denies that the flexibilization of labor legislation places workers as the "weakest link" in the chain: "on the contrary, in all legal systems where labor legislation is stronger and more flexible, there have been more job opportunities for workers and greater wage progression."

Asked whether flexibility might lead to more job insecurity for workers, the liberal stated that "job insecurity is not inherently a weakness."

"It's simply a matter of adapting to change. And I think that for those who live in today's world and with the current speed of change... being used to having to change isn't a problem in itself, it's just an adaptation," he added.

The CGTP announced today a general strike for December 11th, at the end of the national march against the labor package in Lisbon.

Although some of the candidates for Belém are appealing to the Government to resume dialogue and avoid the strike, Cotrim considered that "the right to strike is something that is constitutionally enshrined" and that, therefore, "if the trade union confederations believe that this is the matter that deserves a general strike," he cannot criticize them, "as long as that is the real reason and not a form of partisan or political instrumentalization of that same right to strike."

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