19 October 2008 - 09H08
Slippery start for Portugal's young workers
For young Portuguese workers, so-called "Green slips" are often the best way to find a job. But with companies exempted from social security contributions, the slips have turned out to be a great deal for employers and a bad one for workers.
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Comments (3)
My testimony
I've been a full-time teacher for the past eight years at a private school in Portugal, always on green slips. Now that I've fallen pregnant I was requested to return to work only two weeks after giving birth, when the law says I should stay at home at least 6 weeks. It's going to be my husband, who thankfully is a state school teacher, who is going to take care of our baby. Meanwhile, another colleague, who is on a contract, is also pregnant and she is due at the same time as me. She'll be able to enjoy 5 full months with her baby. It breaks my heart. Especially because I realise it's all a question of money for my employers. The profit they get from my work is four/five times what I'm getting paid, whereas it's about two from my colleagues on a contract. But they keep on going to church every week, pretending they're really kind, good-natured people, driving off behind the wheel of their Porches. I suppose they think they're doing me a favour...
Portuguese
It's not Portugal it is in France. Workers FROM Portugal travel TO France to work there.
The Con Job Of Government Mandated Self Employment
This job situation described in Portugal is remarkably similar to what happened to the cab drivers of New York City when they were unilaterally declared ‘self employed’ in 1979 for exactly the same reason.
I like to say I’m not an ex-cab driver; I’m an escaped slave.