Prime Minister António Costa announced today that the Council of Ministers, which will take place on Thursday in Aveiro, will approve a new statute for the research career.
«Tomorrow in the Council of Ministers we will approve, for union negotiation and negotiation with the institutions of the scientific system, a new statute for the research career to be in force before the end of this transition period, so that there is no discontinuity», said António Costa.
The prime minister was responding to journalists in Aveiro, where he was confronted with a demonstration by around 50 researchers who complained about the lack of responses from the Government regarding the regularization of the bonds of these professionals.
Upon arrival at the University of Aveiro, where he participated in the opening of the Science Meeting 2023, Costa was approached by two demonstrators who handed him a letter of demand and who spoke with the Prime Minister for about five minutes.
After listening to the reasons for the protest, the head of government explained that the council of ministers, which takes place on Thursday in Aveiro, will be dedicated exclusively to the theme of Science and at that time they will start the discussion of the new career statute project. research.
"Within that framework, we will deal with this matter and we are doing it now so that when the diploma that is currently in force ceases its function, we already have a new regime", he added.
Around 50 researchers protested today in Aveiro, where the Science Meeting 2023 is taking place with the presence of the Prime Minister, against the lack of responses from the Government regarding the regularization of the bonds of these professionals.
The protest organized by the National Federation of Teachers (Fenprof), together with organizations and groups of researchers from all over the country, took place next to the rectory of the University of Aveiro (UA).
«Competitions more competitions, we can't take it anymore. We want the same as other professionals" or "Government listens, science is struggling" were some of the slogans heard at the venue
The posters read “We want excellence, treat us with decency” or “Precariousness kills science”.
Speaking to Lusa, Miguel Viegas, from Fenprof, explained that the purpose of this action is to claim that researchers who have had precarious ties for several years are integrated into the career.
«Many of them are hired by project and when the project is over they don't know what their future is. Many of them were hired for six years, which are coming to an end, and they cannot be condemned to another cycle of precariousness», said the union leader.
Protesters demand that “mechanisms” be found to transfer funds to universities so that they can integrate researchers into their careers and give them “a stable contract”.
According to Miguel Viegas, there are around four thousand researchers in a precarious situation throughout the country, which corresponds to around 90% of these professionals.
Promoted by the Foundation for Science and Technology, in collaboration with Ciência Viva and the University of Aveiro, the Science Meeting 2023, which takes place outside Lisbon for the first time, runs from the 5th to the 7th of July, with the theme “Science and Ocean beyond the horizon”.
In addition to António Costa, the meeting, which brings together experts and researchers from different scientific areas, will be attended by the ministers of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Environment and Climate Action, Economy and the Sea and Agriculture and Food and will be closed by the President of the Republic.
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