Portugal is experiencing its second general strike in six months, with transport, schools, and hospitals all affected by the industrial action.

Unions called the 24-hour strike to protest the government's plans to reform labor laws, claiming they would deregulate working hours, make dismissals easier, curb strike rights, and lower parental protections.

State-owned railway CP has suspended long-distance trains and most regional services. The metro in the capital, Lisbon, has shut down.

Schools across the country have closed, while hospitals have postponed most surgeries and appointments after nurses walked out.

The aviation sector has also been impacted: national flag carrier TAP said it would operate just 79 of its more than 300 daily flights. Spanish airline Iberia expects reductions of between 50% and 75%.

A protest march is planned through Lisbon starting at 2:30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT).

The labor code reform package put forward by Portugal's minority center-right government is likely to pass with support from the far-right Chega party. Tiago Oliveira, head of Portugal's largest umbrella union CGTP, told Reuters the reforms would worsen workers' conditions, including forcing young workers into precarious contracts and requiring 50-hour weeks without extra pay.

Source: www.dw.com