Government proposes to increase public administration allowances by 5%

O Government confirmed that today it presented to the public administration unions a proposal to increase the cost and transport allowance values by 5% from November, to face the impact of the cost inherent to in-service travel.

“The government presented today a proposal to increase the amounts of cost and transport aid by 5% from November 2026,” the Ministry of Finance, in a statement sent to the editorials, after today’s meetings with the three representative trade union structures of the Public Administration.

This information had already been advanced by the STE, Common Front and Fesap, however, the trade union structures differed in the interpretation of the time of payment: the President of the STE understood that the increase would be paid already this month, while the Secretary-General of the Fesap said it was unclear when this increase would begin to be paid, although she admits that the Government ensured that the measure would have effect from November.

Lusa questioned the Ministry of Finance at the beginning of the afternoon whether the amount will be paid already with the salary of November or if in the salary of December, but with retroactive effects to November, but did not get reply.

“ This increase follows the increase in the cost of living of public administration workers. We continue to invest in strengthening careers, being constantly alert and ready to support the workers of the Public Administration and their families”, says the Minister of State and Finance, Joaquim Miranda Sarmento, quoted in a statement.

In the same note, the Ministry of Finance points out that “the Government is fully committed to complying with the Multiannual Agreement on the Valuation of Public Administration Workers for the period 2026-2029”, “which covers more than 350,000 workers in 39 careers valued in a relevant manner” without giving any indication that it will go beyond what is foreseen with regard to the wage updates planned for the coming year, as claimed by the public administration unions.

In addition, and after presenting to the trade unions at the previous meeting a re-alandarisation of various matters provided for in the multi-annual agreement, according to progress at the time the trade union structures, in the statement released today ensure that it maintains “the deadlines assumed” under the agreement, “with special focus on general careers and the design of a new performance management system (SIADAP)”.

At the end of today's meeting, the trade union structures regretted that the government did not respond to the demands for wage increases for 2027, with Fesap accusing the executive of confusing the tree with the forest, but maintaining the hope that the agreement could be improved.

On the other hand, the coordinator of the Common Front accused the executive of “intransigence” for not submitting a proposal for wage increases to 2027 above the forecast and said that the allowances in the Public Administration cover “a minority of workers”.

At the same time, the president of the STE said she understood the government’s argument invoking the budgetary impact of career review, but recalled that “who does not have a revised career, has only the increase that is [expected] in the agreement”.

The existing multiannual agreement, signed between Government, Fesap and STE, provides for wage increases of 2.30%, with a minimum of EUR 60.52 in 2027. To confirm the achievement of the target foreseen in the agreement, the remuneration base for public administration will rise from the current EUR 934.99 to EUR 995.51 in 2027.

The agreement in force dictates that the meal allowance, currently EUR 6,15, is increased by 15 cents per year by 2029.