The Government presented a new proposal to update the value of public servants’ meal allowance, foreseeing a gradual increase of 10 cents per year between 2027 and 2029. If the plan moves forward, the daily amount paid to State workers will increase from the current 6 euros to 6.30 euros in 2029.
The measure was presented during a meeting at the Ministry of Finance between the Secretary of State for Public Administration, Marisa Garrido, and the sector’s union structures.
Unions criticize “insufficient” increase
The Common Front reacted critically to the proposal, considering that the Government continues to fail to respond to the needs of workers.
“What the Government proposes is an increase in the perfectly miserable meal allowance”, stated Sebastião Santana, coordinator of the union structure, after leaving the meeting.
According to the same leader, this update represents “another year of loss of purchasing power” for public servants, in a context in which the cost of living continues to rise.
Santana also highlighted that the Executive “sat at the table with a handful of nothing” and called for the mobilization of workers in the national march called by the CGTP for November 8, which he considers “determining” to give visibility to the struggle.
What the Government’s proposal envisages
The last update to the meal allowance occurred in 2023, under the Government of António Costa, when the value increased to 6 euros. Now, the proposal foresees that the amount will increase in phases until 2029, the year in which it will reach 6.30 euros.
At the same meeting, the Executive also confirmed its intention to extend the multi-year agreement until the end of the current legislature. This foresees salary increases of 2.3% per year, with a minimum of 60.52 euros per month, values that will be maintained for 2027 and 2028.
The Government also indicated that the proposal includes the review of the subsistence allowance regime, the evolution of SIADAP (Integrated Public Administration Performance Assessment System) and the remuneration status of management staff, in line with what is foreseen in the legislative program.
Upcoming negotiations in November
According to the Ministry of Finance, the next negotiating meeting is scheduled for November 12th. However, the unions have already warned that they may tighten their forms of protest if there is no progress.
In parallel, the value of the meal allowance paid by electronic card, exempt from IRS and Social Security contributions, was updated this year from 9.60 euros in 2024 to 10.20 euros in 2025, the result of an agreement within the scope of the Social Concertation.
The proposal should be analyzed in the coming weeks, but initial reactions show that understanding between the Executive and unions remains far from being reached.
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