The union led by Mário Mourão emphasizes that, “despite the increases recorded in recent years,” wage rises “remain insufficient to ensure a decent standard of living,” considering the rising cost of living, particularly highlighting “expenses related to housing, energy, and food.”
“In this context, UGT proposes a minimum 5% salary increase for both private and public sectors, ensuring the minimum remuneration level exceeds the national minimum wage, specifically at least 1,000 euros,” as stated in the 2025-2026 claim proposal approved at the national secretariat meeting.
However, it adds: “The proposed figures should not be seen as barriers to negotiating other values, depending on the specific reality of the various sectors and companies involved in the negotiations.”
The UGT also advocates for the reassessment of the benchmarks in the tripartite agreement signed under social consultation in 2024 and suggests that the national minimum wage should rise from the current 870 euros to 950 euros next year.
The current agreement sets the benchmark for the overall wage increase (discussed in collective bargaining) at 4.6% in 2026, with the national minimum wage expected to rise to 920 euros. The minister has indicated that the government intends to adhere to the agreed amount.
Regarding taxation, the UGT supports updating the IRS brackets “based on the nominal enhancement of remunerations” and ensuring “fiscal neutrality in updates, guaranteeing that fiscal burdens do not increase as a result of wage hikes.”
In terms of Social Security, it insists on regular pension increases “rather than solely providing extraordinary supplements to retirees” and calls for the development of “complementary social protection schemes of a collective nature, created and managed within collective bargaining and under public supervision,” but “without replacing the public system.”
Health, education, and housing continue to be key priorities cited by the union, with UGT urging “substantial public investment in social and cooperative housing” to address rising housing costs.
It also prioritizes the negotiation of other matters, namely increasing vacation days, raising meal allowance values, reducing the standard work period, and implementing a four-day work week.
The State Budget for 2026 (OE2026) was approved in general terms on Tuesday. The document now proceeds to the specialized discussion, with the final global vote scheduled for November 27.
