Prime Minister Luís Montenegro has raised the salary targets for Portugal, stating his ambition for the minimum wage to reach 1,600 euros and the average wage to 3,000 euros. This follows a previous suggestion to increase the minimum wage to 1,500 euros and the average to 2,000 or 2,500 euros. The statement provoked criticism from political figures and labor organizations. Paulo Raimundo, Secretary-General of the PCP, accused Montenegro of disrespecting workers, calling the statement “an affront” and “disrespectful.” The General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP-IN) also condemned Montenegro’s views, describing them as an “act of desperation” that shows a significant disconnect from the realities faced by millions of workers.
“We don’t want to grow by 2% a year. We want to grow by 3%, 3.5%, 4%. We want the minimum wage not just to reach 1,100 [euros]. That’s the goal for this legislature, but we want more. We want it to reach 1,500 or 1,600,” stated Luís Montenegro on Saturday during the closing of the 10th National Congress of Social Democratic Mayors (ASD), held in Porto.
The Prime Minister remarked that in a year, his words will “make even more sense,” and by the end of the legislature and municipal terms in September 2029, they will prove relevant.
He further criticized doubters of the government’s ambition, claiming they are the same as those who doubted last year’s economic and budget goals, which the government had exceeded. “We will surpass them again,” he assured.
Earlier, Montenegro suggested that potential changes in labor laws could raise the minimum wage to 1,500 euros and the average wage to 2,000 or 2,500 euros. However, he later expressed the desire for the average wage to reach 2,500, 2,800, or 3,000 euros instead of stopping at 1,600 or 1,700 euros.
On Friday night, José Luís Carneiro, Secretary-General of the PS, accused the Prime Minister of attempting to divert attention from the general strike’s contents by “dangling a carrot” in front of workers.
“An affront, disrespect, and additional reason to oppose the labor package”
Similarly, Paulo Raimundo criticized the Prime Minister for “mocking workers,” following his remarks about potential labor law changes pushing the minimum wage to 1,600 euros. “The Prime Minister had the audacity to suggest that if the labor package passes, Portugal could grow 3, 4, 5, 6 percent, and the minimum wage would reach 1,500 or 1,600 euros. This is mocking workers because he knows, quite well, how precarity affects them, with temporary workers earning, on average, 20% less than others,” Raimundo stated.
Raimundo believes changes in labor laws will increase job insecurity for all workers. He called the suggestion of raising the minimum wage to 1,500 or 1,600 euros reliant on legislative changes “an affront, disrespect, and an additional reason to oppose the labor package.”
The Communist leader also accused PSD, CDS, Chega, and IL of seeking “more working hours, unpaid overtime, more temporary contracts, and layoffs without just cause,” urging strong participation in the general strike scheduled for December 11.
“A massive disconnect and lack of respect for millions of workers”
CGTP-IN criticized Montenegro’s remarks, suggesting they exhibit a massive disconnect and disrespect for millions of workers who struggle with housing, food, and paying bills due to the government’s proposed legislative changes. The syndicate stated that “facing increased adhesion to the December 11 general strike, the Prime Minister out of desperation mentioned labor law changes could pave the way for a 1,500 euros minimum wage and possibly a 2,000 or 2,500 euros average wage, only to revise these figures to 1,600 euros minimum and 3,000 euros average the following day.”
CGTP-IN argued that the manipulation of language and figures by the Prime Minister insults over 2.5 million workers earning under 1,000 euros monthly, poverty-stricken children due to inadequate parental income, and workers in precarious jobs or those working unsocial hours. They claimed the government’s labor package fails to empower workers or improve conditions for salary increases, aiming instead to reinforce negative aspects of labor legislation.
They further alleged that the labor reforms serve employers’ interests by reducing workers’ collective bargaining power and undermining strike rights and union freedoms.
