The Labour Code, in its 2009 version, gained a breadth of content and a level of technical — and even literary — refinement that are difficult to match. On a global scale, it stands as a near-perfect example.
It was a pity that, in its formulation, no consideration was given to the new winds blowing from the United States, the looming clouds in the East, nor, on a domestic level, to the lack of economic growth and the mounting debt that had been evident in Portugal since the beginning of the decade.
The 2012 reform is therefore justified, carried out essentially through Law no. 23/2012 of June 25. It may not be perfect, nor fully suited to the needs of the Portuguese people in the present or near future. Yet, despite its mandatory international origin, it managed to break down certain preconceptions and has the remarkable merit of having gathered around it a level of consensus that few laws in this country have ever achieved.
In light of this important reform and the previous edition having sold out, this new edition of the Labour Code and Complementary Legislation is now presented. It includes a few more annotations but only the most relevant complementary legislation, in order to make it easier to understand and handle.
Alcides Martins
Digital Jurisbook, 2012
