According to Bruno Reis, spokesman for the movement Specialist Maternal Health and Obstetric Nurses, the action represents the resumption of a protest that took place in July and which was suspended for negotiations with the government.

Reis told Lusa that the nurses have decided from Thursday morning to refuse to perform specialist functions for which they are not being paid, because of what he said was a "lack of political response from the government".

They are demanding the creation of a specific career category for them, as well as remuneration for the specialised tasks that they carry out.