Portugal News

Japan to Launch New Work System for Foreign Workers in 2027, Starting With Thailand

Tokyo July 06, 2026 — Japan will introduce a new foreign-worker and vocational-training system in April 2027, opening the door for up to 426,200 overseas workers during its first two years. Thailand has become the first country to sign a bilateral cooperation memorandum with Japan under the upcoming framework, giving Thai workers an early pathway into the programme.

UK Proposes £10,000 Repayment Requirement for Some Asylum Support Recipients Before Settlement

London July 04, 2026 — The UK government has announced plans that could require some adults who received state-funded asylum accommodation and basic living support to repay around £10,000 before becoming eligible to apply for permanent settlement in the UK.

Under the proposed scheme, only people who can afford to pay would be asked to contribute. Children would be exempt, and the proposed charge would not apply retrospectively to people who received support before the new rules take effect.

Portuguese Parliament Rejects Decree on Loss of Nationality for Serious Crimes

Lisbon, July 03, 2026 — Portugal’s Parliament on Friday, 3 July, rejected the confirmation of a decree that would have introduced the loss of Portuguese nationality as an additional criminal penalty for certain serious offences.

The decree had previously been vetoed by former President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and had received two findings of unconstitutionality from the Constitutional Court.

Contributions from foreign workers to Social Security have increased by 34% in the last two years

By the end of 2025, there were 45,000 more foreigners contributing to Social Security compared to the end of the previous year

Lisbon, July 03, 2026 — The average contribution per foreign worker to Social Security rose 34% between April 2024 and April 2026, the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security revealed this Friday.

Based on the latest annual data, contributions from foreign workers to Social Security increased by 18% between 2024 and 2025.

HEAT WAVE - GOVERNMENT MOVES FORWARD WITH DECLARING A “STATE OF ALERT” STARTING AT MIDNIGHT

Lisbon July 02, 2026: — A declaration of a state of alert includes, for example, a ban on burning and on work in forest areas using any type of machinery.

The Minister of Internal Administration, Luís Neves, announced this Thursday, July 2nd, that the Government will proceed "with the application, starting at midnight, of the declaration of a state of alert," due to the persistence of high temperatures, with thermometers exceeding 40 degrees Celsius in some regions.

Single Social Benefit approved in Parliament

Lisbon June 26, 2026 — Parliament approved, in general and in a final overall vote, the bill authorizing the Government to create the Single Social Benefit (PSU), following an agreement between PSD/CDS-PP and PS. The benefit unifies non-contributory subsidies, such as the social insertion income or various pensions.

The Single Social Benefit (PSU) proposed by the Government was approved this Thursday in Parliament, with abstentions from the Socialist Party (PS) and the Liberal Initiative (IL).

The UN rejects the EU transferring its responsibilities towards migrants to third countries

The United Nations on Saturday deeply regretted the European Union's (EU) new legislation on the "return" of rejected migrants, stressing that European countries cannot transfer their obligations to third countries

"EU countries cannot simply pass their human rights obligations on to third countries," said the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk, in a statement.

Portugal Parliament Rejects Labour Law Reform

Lisbon, 19 June 2026 — Portugal’s Parliament has rejected the government’s proposed labour-law reform after Chega joined opposition parties in voting against it.

The proposal, presented by the centre-right PSD/CDS-PP government, aimed to change more than 100 articles of the Labour Code. The government said the reforms were needed to improve productivity, strengthen competitiveness and create better job opportunities.

"No" wins in referendum: Switzerland rejects limiting population to 10 million people by 2050.

BERN, Switzerland, June 14, 2026 — The radical right's proposal to limit Switzerland's population, with the clear aim of restricting immigration, was rejected in the country following the elections held this Sunday.

Swiss voters rejected a far-right initiative to limit the population to 10 million by 2050 in a referendum on Sunday, with national projections indicating a victory for the "no" vote, according to state broadcaster SRF.

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