Production at a Volkswagen factory in Portugal was paralysed Wednesday as workers went on strike over plans to introduce a mandatory Saturday shift to allow for production of a new compact SUV model.

"Participation in the strike is very high, production in the factory is at a complete stop," said Eduardo Florindo, head of the SITE Sul union, one of two which called for the 24-hour strike.

The assembly facility with 3,500 employees has never gone on strike in its over 20 years of operation except during general strikes in the eurozone nation.

The introduction of the Saturday shift at the Autoeuropa plant, located in Palmela some 30 kilometres (20 miles) south of the capital Lisbon, will allow for production of the new T-Roc compact SUV that Volkswagen plans to have in dealerships at the beginning of 2018.

The Autoeuropa plant, opened in 1995 at a cost of 2 billion euros ($2.4 billion) is one of the biggest foreign investments in Portugal and it is one of the nation's top exporters.