Trade Union Freedom in Brazil and Portugal

This paper is an analysis of the principle of trade union freedom in Brazil and Portugal. It was found that in the distant past both countries established this important principle of collective labor law in their constitutional legal systems and for reasons specific to each country took different paths with regard to its applicability. In Brazil along with freedom of association there is the principle of trade union unity also brought in by the Federal Constitution of 1988 which makes the distinction with Portugal clear. It is also evident that this difference has parallel consequences such as trade union organization and the obligations of trade union entities in each country. It can also be seen that there is interference in the ways these union entities are funded which is even reflected in Brazilian tax law.