The president of the Sindicato dos Quadros Técnicos do Estado (STE), Maria Helena Rodrigues, revealed that the government is considering an “update of the meal allowance, potentially also for 2026,” and including “a review of the inspection careers in games, the Authority for Working Conditions, and other inspection careers” in the current agreement.
Following these statements, an official source from the Ministry of Finance confirmed that a proposal to increase the meal allowance for the next year will be presented at the upcoming meeting. However, no specific figures were disclosed.
In the last meeting, the government proposed to raise the meal allowance for public employees by 10 cents annually starting from 2027, aiming to reach 6.30 euros in 2029, along with revising the special careers of IPMA and museum workers, as previously indicated by Rodrigues.
Today, Rodrigues reaffirmed her readiness to negotiate in pursuit of a new multi-year agreement to enhance public administration workers (the current one runs until 2028) but stated that any agreement relies on “improvements” over the existing one.
“If the government meets our expectations, that’s welcome. If not, the current agreement is still in effect,” she noted, emphasizing the need to understand “what the government is willing to offer” and if it provides enough to “essentially renew an agreement, but perhaps under better conditions.”
“This was not the last meeting; there will be another one,” added Rodrigues.
When asked by journalists whether STE would appeal for participation in the general strike announced for December 11 against the draft revision of labor legislation, Rodrigues stated the decision “is not yet finalized,” although if there is no such appeal, “we will never tell our members not to strike.”
While highlighting “an excess” in some areas, particularly regarding changes related to breastfeeding which STE cannot agree with, Rodrigues reminded that the document is still under discussion in social consultation.
The government has shown willingness to proceed with a new multi-year agreement, proposing, among other measures, salary increases of 2.30%, with a minimum of 60.52 euros by 2029, as well as addressing various topics, including “the review of the current expense allowance regime,” revising SIADAP, and the remuneration statute of Management Personnel.
The current agreement, signed in November 2024 with two public function union structures (Fesap and Frente Sindical), outlines increases of 2.15%, with a minimum of 56.58 euros for 2026.
For 2027 and 2028, the agreement specifies increases of 2.3%, with a minimum of 60.52 euros.
