Rising inflation brought Portuguese workers to a state of war. The country’s main unions called strikes and shows In the coming weeks, it will ask the Government and companies to improve salary conditions that will help reduce the loss of purchasing power. Some protests began in late May, when Parliament approved this year’s budgets by a single vote in favor of Prime Minister António Costa’s Socialist Party, which has ruled by an absolute majority since January. The executive subsequently refused to change its proposal for pensions and civil servants’ salaries, despite changes in the economic context.
Socialists argue that an increase in public wages will contribute to the spiral of inflation and defend the measures implemented to date. lowering taxes fuels or limiting the price of gas in the Iberian market agreed with Brussels. However, some measures that the Executive could consolidate in the coming weeks, as Economy Minister António Costa Silva acknowledged. “We know that inflation is largely imported, because 75% of the increase is due to rising energy and food costs. But as time passes it’s harder to accept that it’s temporaryHe reassured himself this week in an interview with The Weekly. Express.
Negotiation continues
The pulse of public employees awaiting new announcements is in the Government. General Confederation of Portuguese Workers (CGTP), the country’s largest union affiliated with the Portuguese Communist Party show for July 7 It will end more than a month of protests in Lisbon. Among his main demands are salary improvements and staff reinforcement Through better access to Public Administration and greater career attractiveness.
The executive this week kicked off the first round of meetings where he proposed a pay raise. 50 euros per month In some sectors, unions find it insufficient for now. Both workers and left parties regret the Government’s refusal to include improvements in public wages in the final Budgets. 0.9% stipulated He accuses Costa of asking companies to “make an effort” to improve their workers’ wages by 20% before 2026 – before the war started in Ukraine – and he also accuses Costa of asking.
Private sector
The Portuguese Business Confederation (CIP) states that such an increase is only work efficiencyThey say something that doesn’t exist yet. “It’s very difficult for companies to manage to raise wages with wild increases in raw materials and energy prices and a shortage of orders,” CIP chairman António Saraiva said in an interview this week. channel. Saraiva urged the government to lower taxes on companies so they can cope with this increase.
Meanwhile, economic uncertainty will continue to hit Portuguese workers hard, whose wages will not rise enough this year to offset high inflation. exceed 6%According to OECD data.