Even if minimum wage in the state rose to €1030 would be “short”

Othe concrete values of wage claims will only be known at the press conference that takes place today at the headquarters of Fesap, in Lisbon, where will be presented the claim notebook for 2027 with contributions to the state budget.

Nevertheless, in statements to Lusa, the Secretary-General of Fesap argues that the remuneration base of the public administration (a public minimum wage) must “continue to be increased, naturally moving away from the national minimum wage”.

José Abraham argues that the multi-annual agreement to value public administration workers, reinforced last year, is a “minimum” agreement and was signed in a different economic context.

“ We have a minimum agreement by 2029, but the expectation was that [inflation] would not accelerate as it has accelerated, either [at the level] of food, whether in fuels” or at the level of housing prices, it highlights.

The person responsible also warned that inflation could be above 3% this year, which will lead to losses in purchasing power in view of the agreement in force.

The Secretary-General of Fesap thus warns of the need to go beyond what is provided for in the agreement, which provides for wage increases of 2.3%, with a minimum of EUR 60.52. 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.

“ It makes no sense to tell people that they have inflation of probably more than 3% and that they must continue to lose wages. This cannot be”, he says.

Despite not mentioning concrete figures, asked whether Fesap will require a minimum increase of more than EUR 95 (value proposed last year) and what would put BRAP above about EUR 1,030, the Secretary-General of Fesap says that “it is guaranteed”.

“ Even if it is EUR 1,030 is insufficient and it is short-sighted to what are the needs of the workers today and fundamentally to fix people”, says Joseph Abraham.

On the basis of the meal allowance, which currently amounts to EUR 6,15 and is expected to increase by 15 cents a year by 2029, it admits to ask the Government to go further.

It also recalls that the current agreement provides for a clause that dictates that the predicted values can be reassessed during the usual annual collective bargaining process, which usually takes place from September or October, if there is a “substantial change” in the light of the conditions laid down when defining the increases.