During the sectoral discussion of the XVI Madeira Government Program (PSD/CDS-PP), spanning 2025-2029 and set to be voted on this afternoon, the regional secretary for Inclusion, Labor, and Youth assessed the document as having a “well-defined strategy, with clear priorities and concrete measures” to generate greater wealth and combat poverty.
Emphasizing that statistical indicators “do not lie” and showing that Madeira has “followed appropriate and effective policies of inclusion, employment, social, and solidarity to effectively combat poverty,” Paula Margarido highlighted a series of data demonstrating a reduction in poverty within the region.
The official noted that the poverty rate, defined as individuals living on less than 60% of the national median income (7,588 euros annually), stood at 19.1% in the region in 2023, higher than the national rate of 16.6%.
Nevertheless, she highlighted that these figures marked a decrease of 5.7 percentage points compared to 2022 in Madeira, contrasting with a mere 0.4 percentage point drop nationally, stressing that this autonomous region recorded the most significant reduction in poverty risk.
Paula Margarido asserted that Madeira’s outcome, “achieved through appropriate and effective policies, propelled the national result” and noted that the poverty risk rate in the region fell by 8.4 percentage points between 2017 and 2023, compared to a nationwide decrease of only 0.7 percentage points.
The official assured, however, that the Regional Government remains mindful of extreme poverty, particularly among people with dependencies, illnesses, and homelessness, emphasizing continued work with all groups, especially the most vulnerable.
The Madeiran government also commits to expanding social responses, valuing the careers of home care support technicians, and strengthening support for domestic violence victims through increasing the regional supplement and creating autonomy houses.
In terms of labor, the regional secretary stated that the Madeiran government will continue “the exemplary policy of social dialogue,” which facilitated collective agreements in 18 business sectors “where salary increases are around 7.6% and surpass the regional inflation rate of 3.6%.”
She also mentioned that in the hospitality, restaurant, and related sectors, as well as construction, “the collective agreement has ensured a guaranteed minimum increase of 65 euros across all professional categories.”
“And let us not forget that we have the highest national minimum wage, which is 915 euros,” she pointed out.
The Madeira Government also intends to continue reinforcing support for the unemployed, through actions that “promote active job searching, employability, guidance, and counseling,” and will encourage employers to develop social responsibility projects.
Lina Pereira, a deputy from JPP, the main opposition party, urged the secretary to contemplate on the poverty risk rate figures if social transfers did not exist, describing it as “highly alarming,” and criticized that the recent study commissioned by the region to characterize poverty was not mentioned by the official.
Conversely, Socialist Isabel Garcês commented that the Government Program in Inclusion is “a continuation of failed policy,” being “vague, lacking ambition, and without structural measures to address people’s social problems.”
Chega deputy Manuela Gonçalves commented on a decrease in unemployment in the year’s first quarter, compared to the same period last year, and mentioned instances of individuals receiving subsidies and systematically rejecting job offers.
Lastly, IL’s sole deputy, Gonçalo Maia Camelo, raised questions about extending the insularity subsidy to the private sector, labeling it as an “unfit subject.”
The vote on the XVI Madeira Government Program (PSD/CDS-PP) for 2025-2029 is scheduled for today at 3:00 p.m. in the Legislative Assembly, with guaranteed approval due to the absolute majority formed by social democrats and centrists.
