Portugal is bracing for a general strike on Thursday, the first one in 12 years.

Portugal’s two main unions have called the strike to protest against a new Labour package announced by the centre-right government of Prime Minister Luis Montenegro.

Montenegro’s government says the measures proposed add flexibility to the job market; its opponents say it's an attack on workers’ rights.

Among some of the most contested elements is a limit on how long breastfeeding women can claim a flexible work schedule and reduced miscarriage bereavement leave.

The reforms would also make worker dismissals easier.

Nuno Costa is a 48-year-old worker at Lisbon's urban hygiene services.

He still remembers the last general strike he joined in 2013 during the so called "troika" period.

The word refers to the three entities that managed the bailout terms in the country during the economic crisis along with the government - the European Commission, The European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

This week, Costa will again strike.

He sees it as History trying to repeat itself in the form of the labour package.

"I see again the rights of workers being attacked in a very aggressive way, the intentions from the troika period are again trying to go into the labour package", he said.

The strike was called by CGTP, the more left wing union, and then joined by UGT - considered to be more center-right and closer to the party of the government.

The 24-hour strike is expected to affect all public services and the private sector.

Some of the areas most impacted are likely to be public transport, airports, schools and hospitals.

AP Video by Helena Alves