The government will analyze the proposals put forward by public sector unions, though no immediate commitment has been made regarding these suggestions, according to a statement from the Ministry of Finance. This announcement followed a meeting held in the morning with the three main public sector unions to discuss general salary updates.
The statement was released after the president of the Sindicato dos Quadros Técnicos do Estado (STE) indicated post-meeting that the government would consider a proposal regarding the reinstatement of three vacation days removed during the ‘troika’ intervention.
The coordinator of the Federação Nacional dos Sindicatos dos Trabalhadores em Funções Públicas e Sociais (Frente Comum) noted that this topic was not addressed in their discussions, and stated that the government had not altered “a single comma” of its initial proposal presented to the unions.
On a related note, the secretary-general of the Federação dos Sindicatos da Administração Pública e de Entidades com Fins Públicos (Fesap) mentioned that the meeting revealed barely any new proposals from the government, although there was discussion about potential “revisions in some career paths within the new agreement or its extension.”
José Abraão of Fesap emphasized the necessity of increasing the meal subsidy and reinstating vacation days removed during the ‘troika’, and mentioned the union’s readiness to resort to protests if necessary.
The unions are hopeful that the government will review their demands and offer a “different proposal” in the next meeting scheduled for October 29.
The initial proposal from September 26 includes maintaining the values outlined in the multi-annual agreement for 2026, 2027, and 2028, with a proposal to extend the agreement through the current legislative term until 2029. This extension suggests raises of 2.30%, with a minimum of 60.52 euros.
The existing agreement, signed in November 2024 with Fesap and Frente Sindical, includes increments of 2.15%, with a minimum of 56.58 euros for the coming year.
For 2027 and 2028, the agreement stipulates increases of 2.3%, starting at 60.52 euros.
Additionally, according to the Ministry of Finance on September 26, the proposal to public sector unions incorporates “other relevant matters,” such as the revision of the existing regime for travel allowances, evaluation of SIADAP, and the remuneration statute for managerial staff, aligning with the government’s program measures.
Fesap, associated with UGT, suggests raising the base salary in the public sector to 973.41 euros in 2026, with a minimal update of 95 euros for all workers, as well as increasing the meal subsidy to 10 euros per day, tax-free.
The Frente Sindical, led by STE, demands a 6.4% salary increase for all public employees in 2026 and has agreed to revise their demand for the meal allowance increase from 12 to 10 euros in 2026.
The Frente Comum, affiliated with CGTP, seeks a 15% wage increase, with a minimum of 150 euros from January 1, alongside a meal subsidy update to 12 euros.
