Government begins negotiating the organization of nurses' working hours

The Ministry of Health begins today to negotiate with the nursing unions new ways of organizing the working time of these professionals in the National Health Service (SNS).

The Government must present the initial proposal for the wording of the Collective Labor Agreement (ACT).

"The government's proposal will cover topics such as new ways of organizing nurses' working time, particularly flexible working hours," the ministry, headed by Ana Paula Martins, said in a statement after meeting with unions on July 30.

The Minister of Health, the Secretary of State for Public Administration, Marisa Garrido, and the Secretary of State for Health Management, Francisco Rocha Gonçalves, met with seven unions representing nurses, to whom they presented the proposed negotiation protocol.

For the Government, the meetings represented "the resumption of negotiations, following the commitment made in the Government Program to build new models of work organization, adapted to the current challenges and the aspirations of young health professionals, better reconciling work with personal and family life."

Protocols were signed between the Ministries of Health and Finance and the Platform that brings together the National Nurses' Union (SNE), the Democratic Union of Portuguese Nurses (SINDEPOR), the Nurses' Union (SE), the Independent Union of Nursing Professionals (SIPENF) and the Independent Union of All United Nurses (SITEU). The Portuguese Nurses' Union Association (ASPE) also signed the document.

At the time, the Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) was the only one that did not sign the protocol, which will be discussed again today.