“The firefighters are waiting for the State Budget (OE) for 2026 to give a signal of what is set to change within the universe of associations and firefighters according to the demands presented each OE and yet to receive a response,” stated the LBP.
The president of the LBP, António Nunes, informed that the minimum amount to be transferred to the firefighters should be 49.38 million euros, compared to the 34.78 million euros approved for the year 2025.
The law on the financing of voluntary firefighter humanitarian associations is approved annually in parliament under the OE, and the amount allocated is based on risk criteria and the activity of each corporation.
This financial support is transferred monthly in twelfths by the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority.
António Nunes explained that the amount of 49.38 million euros references the hourly value of the national minimum wage, which is five euros.
“Considering the Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Remuneration of 2025, five euros per hour, and the population residing in mainland Portugal according to the 2021 Census, 9,855,909 people, the reference budget to be included in the OE for 2026 would amount to 49.38 million euros,” he stated.
However, for the League, this is not the ideal financing model, and António Nunes emphasized that the LBP “has consistently advocated for the reformulation of the financing model” through the revision of the current law and the introduction of program contracts between humanitarian firefighter associations and State bodies across the various areas of firefighter activity.
According to the LBP, these instruments would “ensure fair and transparent compensation for the services provided, in line with the principle of equity and the financial responsibility of the State towards those who carry out public tasks.”
“While this legislative review is not accomplished, it is important to correct evident distortions of the current model, and one of the specific proposals is to link the basic financing to the hourly value of the Guaranteed Minimum Monthly Remuneration,” he stressed.
The Government today approved, during the Council of Ministers meeting, the proposal for the State Budget for 2026, a document that is expected to enter parliament by the next Friday, October 10th.
