Tens of thousands have taken to the streets of Portugal's capital, Lisbon, to protest against proposed labour laws which they say threaten workers' rights, BBC reported.

The centre-right government wants to make it easier for employers to fire people, outsource work to other companies, and limit some types of compassionate leave, including cutting bereavement leave for women who suffer miscarriages.

It says the measures are needed to improve job flexibility and increase productivity in one of western Europe's poorest countries, according to BBC.