The Portuguese Commerce and Services Confederation was created in 1976, as a result of the associative movement that appeared after the Revolution of the 25th April.
In the last three decades, there has been a considerable evolution of the economic activity in Portugal, as well as the commerce and services activities, which have become much closer. As a result, in 1995, CCP was transformed in the Portuguese Commerce and Services Confederation.
Therefore, CCP represents nowadays the interests and aims of the employers/entrepreneurs of commerce and of several services, gathering around 100 sector and regional associations and representing more than 200.000 enterprises, including micro and small enterprises, which have a very significant weight in this reality.
Concerning its specific aims, CCP:
- Ensures, as a social partner, the representation of the sector (commerce and services) in national and international entities/bodies;
- Gives opinion and takes position on legal proposals relevant to the sector;
- Organises and develops services to the associations and enterprises of the sector (studies, consultancy services to foster and support entrepreneurship, vocational training plans…);
- Co-ordinates the national training in the sector, in connection with the associations, namely through its integrated vocational training plans, a vocational training centre – CECOA- and the Commerce School of Lisbon.
As social partner, CCP is represented in several entities, including:
- The Economic and Social Council (CES);
- The Permanent Commission for Social Bargaining (CPCS);
- The Board of Administration of the Portuguese Public Institute for Employment and Vocational Training (IEFP);
- Several bodies/working groups related to Employment, Competition, Health and Safety at Work, etc;
- Several commissions related to Vocational Training, Education, Certification, etc.
At international level, CCP:
- Is a member of EUROCOMMERCE, the European association representing the interests of commerce close to the European Union institutions;
- Is a member of SMEunited, the employers´ European Social Partner for craft and SME;
- Follows the legislative process of the European Union, specially in the relevant areas for the sector;
- Is represented in the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC), in the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Dublin Foundation), in the European Agency for Safety and Health at Work (EU-OSHA) and in European Commission Advisory Committees;
- Participates in the annual international conference of the International Labour Organisation;
- Participates in transnational Vocational Training projects and in other kinds of projects with interest to the development of its activity.
Concerning its internal organisation, CCP has an International Affairs Department, a Legal and Fiscal Affairs Department and a Studies and Projects Department, which send information concerning their field of activity to the associations and their enterprises, give consultancy services and often participate in specific projects, both at national and international level.