The CGTP says it is essential to strengthen supervision and comply with the legislation of safety and health at work, calling for a “change of paradigm”, which puts the focus on preventing policies on the subject.
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19/08/2026
by
Lusa
“ A defense of life, health and safety at work must be an absolute priority”, says the trade union center, in a statement, adding that “no worker should lose his life or see his health compromised to exercise his right to work”.
The reaction arises on the day that two men of 28 and 40 years died following the fall of an elevated platform in Rua Dona Inês de Castro, in the parish of Belas, municipality of Sintra, in the district of Lisbon.
The work where these workers died does not have a license to occupy the public road and will be part of the Public Ministry, according to the source of the municipality.
The trade union center calls for a “change of paradigm, which places prevention at the center of health and safety policies at work”.
“It is necessary to combat the causes of accidents and occupational diseases, ensure safe and healthy working environments and ensure a serious, responsible and determined intervention,” the same note says.
For the CGTP, “it is essential to strengthen supervision, ensure compliance with safety and health legislation at work”, as well as “to provide the competent authorities with the necessary means and to hold accountable those who, by action or omission, endanger the lives and physical integrity of workers”.
In this context, the trade union centre led by Tiago Oliveira ensures that “it will continue to intervene and to demand from employers and policy makers the necessary measures so that no worker is obliged to put his life or health at risk to work”.
“The life, health and safety of those who work must be above any economic interest”, he adds.
In April, Government approved in, Council of Ministers, the National Strategy for Safety and Health at Work (ENSST) to 2026-2027, aiming to reduce the rate of accidents at work, in particular fatal accidents.
According to the latest data provided by the Directorate-General for Coordination and Planning (DGCP, former GEP), for 2024, the number of accidents at work increased by 1.3%, compared to 2023, with 120 deaths resulting from these accidents, a retreat of 11.8%, in homologous terms.