The 24-hour strike, which began at 00:00 and ends at 23:59, led to the closure of Minipreço supermarkets in Lisbon, Amadora, Odivelas and Barreiro, Filipa Costa, president of Cesp - Trade Workers Union, told Lusa.

The director announced, in a first assessment at 10:00, that some Pingo Doce supermarkets are operating with almost half the staff in the Lisbon area and a gas station in Braga is closed.

Workers demand salary increases of at least 150 euros per month and respect for working hours.

According to Filipa Costa, it is not acceptable that, in a context of "increasing cost of living", workers continue to receive the minimum wage or "a little more" and companies' profits "have increased exponentially".

The union leader also highlighted the "general disrespect" for working hours.

"There is a lack of workers and companies don't want to hire them", claimed the president of Cesp, a union that also demands the closure of trade on Sundays and holidays and a reduction in working hours until 10pm on other days.