The commitments outlined in the tripartite agreement for salary enhancement and economic growth from 2025 to 2028 have been faithfully translated by the government, noted the Minister of Labor, Solidarity, and Social Security. This announcement came during the last social dialogue meeting before the early elections scheduled for May 18. However, she acknowledged that the political crisis left some “more structural aspects” unaddressed.
“The groundwork has been laid, and it will be up to the next government to pick it up,” she stated, highlighting that, in her view, the government accomplished much more during this year than what was initially anticipated.
Maria do Rosário Palma Ramalho emphasized the “great openness” shown by the government toward social partners in these discussions, which facilitated bringing the Confederação Empresarial de Portugal (CIP) to the negotiation table—an entity that had not signed the previous agreement but endorsed the current one. She also mentioned the creation of various working groups that have been addressing significant issues.
The minister admitted that there are “structural matters” the government had been working on and which still need discussion in social dialogue. These include labor legislation, administrative modernization, tax benefit statutes, professional training, and occupational health and safety.
She also expressed hope that the next administration would honor the salary enhancement and economic growth agreement for 2025-2028 signed in October, emphasizing that the current government “continued implementing measures derived from two previous agreements” established by António Costa’s administration.
“This is not a choice. It is indeed an obligation,” she asserted, stressing that “these agreements bind the Government of Portugal.”
This concern is echoed by both business confederations and trade unions alike.
