Portugal may have a more difficult time reaching the reform promises its leaders had made for the 2011, 78 billion-euro bailout it received because of today?s Constitutional Court?s ruling. The law that was struck down would have expanded employer layoff rights, ruling that discrimination would be an issue as well as the possibility of employers laying off employees without first attempting to retrain or move employees within the organization. The judges have ruled unconstitutional three other labor laws this year, all aimed at similar reforms. This ruling in addition with the others may prevent Portugal from reaching the objectives specified in its bailout agreement.
See "Portugal?s Constitutional Court strikes down more government labor reforms", Francisco Seco, The Washington Post, September 25, 2013