“It is a budget that continues and deepens the problems existing in public administration,” commented the union structure coordinator, Sebastião Santana, during a conference held today to publicly present the first analysis of the OE2026 proposal.
“The proposal falls well short of what is necessary given the continuous loss of purchasing power of workers,” he added.
The Government submitted the State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) to the Assembly of the Republic on Thursday, maintaining the initial proposal for public sector salary increases as outlined in the multi-annual agreement signed in November 2024 with Fesap and the Syndical Front.
For 2026, the proposed increase is 56.58 euros or 2.15%, rising to 60.52 euros in 2027 and 2028, extending to 2029. The base salary in Public Administration, currently 878.41 euros, will increase to 934.99 euros in 2026, including progressions, promotions, and salary agreements, with an estimated total of 1.248 billion euros in personnel expenses.
The continuation of the initial proposal led the Common Front to maintain the public sector general strike scheduled for October 24, should the Government not present improvements.
Sebastião Santana argued that “the proposed salary increases are insufficient and are already compromised by previous agreements.”
“The same Government that points to an increase in personnel expenses of around 891 million euros fails to dissect this. There are already established agreements for insufficient salary increases, and nothing new is presented,” he said.
Among the criticisms, Sebastião Santana also highlighted the Government’s fiscal options, deeming them unfair. “The loss of tax revenue from the reduction in the IRS rate amounts to 196 million euros, while the Government grants a tax break to large companies of 300 million in IRC,” he pointed out.
“Indirect taxes, which account for about 56% of fiscal revenue, mainly affect populations with lower salaries. Both someone earning 25,000 euros per month and someone earning the national minimum wage pay VAT. These are blind, unfair taxes that continue to have a brutal impact on the State budget,” he pointed out.
The Common Front also warned of a 25% increase in investment in public-private partnerships (PPP), viewing it as a sign of “Government disengagement from essential areas,” such as health.
“The same Government that estimates an inflation rate of 2.1% increases the health budget, but half goes directly to large economic groups,” he accused.
In contrast, he highlighted a 14.5% growth in defense funds, ironically saying, “It seems that in Portugal, citizens have more defense issues than health issues, which we all know is not true.”
Sebastião Santana recalled that there are 760,000 workers in public administration, about 15% of total employment, below the European average of 20%, and warned of the lack of personnel and growing precariousness.
“It is impossible to continue working in public administration with very low wages, an evaluation system that hinders progressions, and growing precariousness, while State resources are wasted in favor of the private sector,” he stated.
In light of this scenario, the coordinator reiterated that “the necessary response to this budget is the general strike,” scheduled for October 24.
“Workers will fight this budgetary policy. We do not choose workers by union affiliation — anyone is welcome to join. Unity is built on concrete proposals,” he stated, advocating a 15% increase for all workers, with a minimum of 150 euros, the repeal of the evaluation system, and the guarantee of public appointment tenure for all.
[Updated at 13:53]
