The “Iniciativa Liberal “ Party meets with the National Association of Liberal Professionals in the Assembly of the Republic.
The President of the Liberal Initiative, Rui Rocha, and Carla Castro, Deputy and member of the 10th Parliamentary Committee on Labor, Social Security, and Inclusion, had a working meeting with the ANPL at the Portuguese Parliament in Lisbon, March the 16th.
The ANPL was represented by its President, Orlando Monteiro da Silva, João Ascenso, and Ana Lopes, a member of the general assembly.
The “Liberal Initiative” showed great interest in deepening its knowledge of the new dynamics of the labor market and the issues that arise today in terms of social protection and taxation applicable to these professionals in Portugal. A set of parliamentary intervention lines dedicated to these themes were described by the Liberal Party.
The ANPL shared with Rui Rocha and Carla Castro its perspective on the profound changes that the organization of work in our society is undergoing and the relevant role that liberal professionals and similar, freelancers, and consultants will assume in these new realities that are emerging. At the end of the meeting, a set of action lines and initiatives programmed by IL and ANPL were identified.
The common will to contribute to a legislative and regulatory framework that values liberal professionals, framed in their respective ethical frameworks, aspiring to the highest professional standards and references that independent workers place in the exercise of different activities, in line with the superior interests of consumers, thus contributing to the increase in the country’s competitiveness, was reaffirmed.
In the European Economic Area, one in six workers carries out their professional activity in a sector related to liberal professions, and the trend is increasing. It is never too much to recall that in Portugal, despite already exceeding 600,000 regulated professionals, plus 400,000 exercising professional activities on their own account, one see liberal professionals without representation and full defense of their interests, particularly in the economic, fiscal, and social protection aspects. Obviously, this is a concern of ANPL and a central theme of concerns to the different political. Before this meeting with the liberal formation, ANPL had already met with the socialist and social-democratic parties.
Orlando Monteiro da Silva stated at the end of the meeting: “Unfortunately, the social elevator of liberal professionals is broken. Only when we are conveniently heard and recognized will we help mitigate the trend of proletarianization and remuneration degradation of these professionals and its consequences. Liberal professionals are one of the most dynamic segments of Portuguese society: they provide services with a great contribution to the Portuguese economy. Freelancers and consultants, academics, and others in universities, companies, and the public and social sectors make a difference. We found an excellent reception and welcome from IL, which naturally leaves us satisfied.”
In turn, Deputy Carla Castro declared: “Liberal professionals are essential for the economy, innovation, and have a multiplicity of underlying realities. IL has been developing proposals for liberal professionals and has a clear intention of giving more political voice and concrete solutions. It is important to aspire to a country with another vision and viability, and we continue to work to contribute to this reality, which is why the meeting with ANPL was relevant, to listen and work with those who are on the ground and work on solutions.“
ANPL assumes itself in Portugal as the interprofessional voice of defense and promotion of liberal professionals, freelancers, and consultants, understood as “holders of qualifications of an intellectual nature, including those of an artistic and cultural nature, promoting their responsibility, autonomy, and independence in the superior interest of consumers and the community in general.”
Associação Nacional dos Profissionais Liberais 