António Cotrim / LUSA
The Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Maria do Rosário Ramalho
Minister of Labor separates the themes in the discussions of social consultation: labor law does not have to be a conversation about minimum wages.
The Government’s priority is to discuss labor law in social consultation. “Of course, yes. That’s what we presented and it’s the priority”, reinforces the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security.
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho was asked about the increase in the minimum wage in the coming years; and recalled that there is a tripartite agreement with social partners.
The minimum wage will be 920 euros in 2026with a forecast of 1.100 euros to 2029: “If we don’t change anything, we will have to make a big leap in the last year. But we will only change it by agreement, again. There could be a more progressive increase if we agree with the social partnerseither soon or next year.”
However, increasing the minimum wage is not a priority for the Government: “Right now It’s not on the tablebut obviously the social partners will also be sensitive to the need to divide the transition from 1,000 to 1,100 that results from the new legislature over several years. If this happens the Government will be available to make a higher increase than what was included in the budget”.
But the minister does not guarantee an increase in the minimum wage next year: “What I said was when we agree with the social partners. We will not take this proposal to the next meetings. No, we are currently discussing other matters.”
The meetings are used to discuss labor law but not the minimum wage: “These are different topics. At the moment we are not in a hurry to take this matter up because it is not at the center of our discussions. And because this gradualism can be done for next year without any problems”.
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho does not foresee dates for this possible “higher increase” than what is foreseen in the State Budget: “I do not anticipate scenarios. Social consultation and the debate on social consultation are very dynamic”.
