In 2024, over 2,000 women in Portugal lost their jobs for reasons related to maternity, according to the Commission for Equality in Work and Employment (CITE). The organisation received 2,170 notifications from companies planning to lay off or not renew contracts for women who were pregnant, postpartum, breastfeeding, or on parental leave. This figure represents the second highest in five years, exceeded only in 2020, with last year also recording the highest number of layoffs in this period.

According to CITE's annual report, cited by Público, most communications in 2024 refer to non-renewals of fixed-term contracts (1,894 cases), followed by terminations during probationary periods (138) and dismissals (138).

Although CITE president Carla Tavares notes that it is unclear whether the increase reflects a rise in actual cases or greater compliance by companies with legal obligations, she stresses that the numbers “remain consistently high.” She also pointed out that many cases involve women with foreign names, highlighting the heightened vulnerability of immigrant workers.

Over the past five years, more than 9,300 individuals have been affected by contract non-renewals, dismissals, or terminations during probation under similar circumstances, Público reports. Despite interventions by CITE, only 108 jobs have been reinstated since 2022. The report also notes five cases of workplace bullying against women and emphasises that, although the gender pay gap has narrowed, women still earn 12.5% less in base salary than men and remain underrepresented in leadership and decision-making positions.