Afternoon Update -- Thursday, 5 March 2026

Your afternoon roundup of news from Portugal.

Parliament forces government's hand on storm pay

The Assembleia da Republica approved a cross-party measure on Wednesday requiring that workers placed on lay-off following storm Kristin receive 100% of their net salary -- up to 2,760 euros per month -- rather than the two-thirds the government's published decree had stipulated. The Bloco de Esquerda proposal passed against the votes of PSD and Iniciativa Liberal. The government has indicated it may contest the result if it identifies a legal conflict.

Nurses announce 20 March strike

The Portuguese Nurses Union (SEP) has called a national strike for 20 March, covering morning and afternoon shifts across public hospitals and health centres. The union says the Ministry of Health failed to meet a February deadline for resolving career-point accounting disputes that have blocked pay progression for nurses. The SEP is also demanding new hires, competitive examinations for specialist grades, and withdrawal of proposed changes to the labour law.

Health auxiliaries protest in Lisbon

Health auxiliary technicians delivered a petition with 6,700 signatures to Parliament on Wednesday, protesting stalled salary negotiations and accumulated pay losses since 2023. The protest adds to a broadening wave of discontent inside the SNS workforce ahead of the 20 March nurses' strike.

Hilton secures Conrad resort deal in the Algarve

Hilton has signed to open a Conrad-branded resort at Meia Praia beach in Lagos, adding a premium international hotel brand to the western Algarve's coastline. The 116-room property, featuring seven sea-view suites with private plunge pools, fits within Portugal's Tourism Strategy 2027 push for high-value hospitality investment. An opening date has not been confirmed.

Bank chiefs deny cartel at parliamentary hearing

The CEOs of BCP, Santander, BBVA and Abanca appeared before Parliament on Wednesday to refute allegations of coordinated pricing. BCP's Miguel Maya stated that no cartel existed and no harm was done to customers. Critics questioned whether rate adjustments were applied symmetrically -- rising faster than they fell -- with particular relevance for Portugal's large pool of variable-rate mortgage holders.

HQA visa draws growing interest as Golden Visa alternative

The Highly Qualified Activity visa, which allows professionals and entrepreneurs to secure Portuguese residency through innovation-linked projects starting from around 170,000 euros, is attracting increasing attention from internationally mobile applicants. The pathway leads to the same citizenship eligibility as the Golden Visa after five years, at a significantly lower capital threshold.

British tourists switching from Canary Islands to Portugal

Travel data for 2026 shows British visitors increasingly choosing Portugal over the Canary Islands, drawn by the mainland's 300-plus days of annual sunshine and expanding flight connections. The Algarve and Lisbon continue to lead demand, with the Azores and Madeira gaining ground among those seeking quieter alternatives.