"We have had news from the National Statistics Institute (INE) and the Institute of Employment and Professional Training (IEFP) that lead us to think that, in fact, the most critical point of this economic contraction has already passed", he said, in statements to journalists.

Speaking in Felgueiras, in the district of Porto, where he visited a footwear company and met with representatives of the sector, the government official said that, although there was still "growth in the number of unemployed", and it appears that "in June there were already more job offers and more job placements than in May.

"It is still very little, but clearly there is already a slowdown in the rise in unemployment", he stressed.

"Now that economic activity is starting to resume, albeit slowly, support [to companies] has to be directed to co-participate and support the payment of wages."