According to the Government, the national minimum wage will rise to 920 euros gross per month in 2026, maintaining the amount provided for in the tripartite agreement currently in force. According to the newspaper Expresso, this increase of 50 euros compared to the current 870 euros guarantees some relief for those who receive the minimum, but not all workers and pensioners will see their income improve significantly.
Who will ‘smile’ in 2026
At the hearing in Parliament, the Minister of Labor, Solidarity and Social Security, Rosário Palma Ramalho, made it clear that the update of the minimum wage will strictly follow the current agreement. According to the same source, there will be no room for a more significant review, despite UGT’s claims. “The Government will, of course, publish the minimum wage diploma for 2026, as we mentioned in the OE, in compliance with this agreement”, said Ramalho, responding to social democratic deputy Isaura Morais.
For pensioners, the situation is different. The update will follow the legal formula in force, considering inflation and economic growth, which will allow some recovery in purchasing power for those who earn less.
The allocation of an extraordinary supplement will depend on budget execution. “It would be irresponsible to act otherwise. We would be putting the entire system at risk”, explained Ramalho. According to Jornal Expresso, this means that not all pensioners will see an extra increase: only those who fall within the budget margins will be able to benefit from the supplement.
Ramalho also highlighted that the Government continues to protect lower pensions, through the Solidarity Supplement for the Elderly and the extraordinary supplements already granted. “It was the PSD Government that unfroze the lowest pensions and it is the AD Government that protects pensioners with lower incomes”, he stated, responding to deputy Mariana Mortágua, from the Left Bloc.
Other social measures
The minister also addressed the issue of breastfeeding leave, explaining that the Government’s proposal seeks to balance mothers’ rights and encourage the father’s role. Data from 2025 shows that only 4,740 fathers requested initial parental leave of 120 days, compared to 17,660 mothers, with an average father taking leave of 35 days.
In relation to the strike in the public sector, Ramalho assured that the draft Work XXI aims to reconcile the right to strike with the protection of basic social needs, clarifying minimum services and expanding the scope of protected areas, such as care for children, the elderly and the sick.
Support for informal caregivers will increase. The Minister and Secretary of State for Social Security, Susana Filipa Lima, explained that the informal caregiver grant will be created soon, allowing caregivers to be replaced in their own home. In 2025, the average payment was 415 euros, and in 2026 an increase of 23.7% is expected, with almost 40 million euros budgeted.
The digitalization of Social Security made it possible to reduce two million face-to-face services. According to Susana Filipa Lima, 800 thousand people started to access documents from home or on their cell phone, while 170 thousand stopped traveling to make payments. In 2026, an unemployment simulator will be launched and the companies’ contribution cycle will be simplified, with the aim of halving the response time to any request.
The Secretary of State for Social Action and Inclusion, Clara Marques Mendes, announced a new strategy for homeless people. 45 new street teams, more social managers and the delivery of 44 emergency or affordable housing are planned. According to , the measure aims to provide an integrated response, preventing these people from returning to the streets and reinforcing social support.
Those who will “smile” in 2026 are workers who receive the minimum wage, who will have a guaranteed increase. Pensioners, although they benefit from the legal update, will only receive extraordinary supplements if the budget allows it, that is, not everyone will see the difference in their pockets.
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