“We saw today a news report indicating that the government wanted to accelerate the so-called IRS measure for August. Their reasoning was based on signs of economic weakness, suggesting that people need money in their pockets to spend. It’s unnecessary to wait until August; they can do it tomorrow: raise wages and pensions, and people will be in better shape to meet their needs and stimulate the economy,” stated the leader of the PCP.
On the sidelines of a demonstration that gathered hundreds of local government workers in front of the Assembleia da República, Raimundo told journalists that these workers “are the ones who keep the economy running, ensure the country functions, and create wealth.”
The communist leader further noted that the PCP has long advocated for increasing workers’ income, stressing that this measure “will have to be implemented sooner or later.”
Paulo Raimundo also highlighted the “regression quintet,” consisting, according to the PCP, of parties supporting the government’s measures in parliament, “wants to change labor laws, exert further pressure on these workers’ lives, and advance measures restricting the right to strike.”
“They may try all that, but they won’t succeed. The strength [of the workers who demonstrated today] is immense and will not allow it,” he added.
The government submitted a bill to the Assembleia da República on Wednesday, proposing an additional IRS reduction of 500 million euros this year, with a reduction of 0.5 percentage points between the first and third brackets, 0.6 percentage points between the fourth and sixth, and 0.4 percentage points in the seventh and eighth.
The parliament approved the government’s urgency request to evaluate this proposed law.
It has been reported that the government is preparing to expedite this measure for implementation at the start of August, aiming to “boost consumption in the summer and attempt to curb the economic slowdown.”
Hundreds of local government workers protested today in Lisbon, in a march from Largo Camões to the parliament, demanding salary increases and supplements in response to rising living costs.
According to the Union of Local Administration Workers (STAL), which organized the protest, the workers demand salary increases for operational assistants, technical assistants, and senior technicians.
STAL supported the Common Front’s and other Public Administration unions’ proposal, suggesting an interim revision of the minimum wage to reach 1,000 euros this year, with a minimum increase of 150 euros for all workers.
The workers also demand an increase in meal allowances, general career enhancement, and the restoration of local administration careers.
