A four-year proposal presented this Monday, October 3, to the civil servant unions. In each of the next four years, the Government undertakes to give an increase of at least 52.11 euros per worker, for a total of 208 euros per employee.
Mariana Vieira da Silva defended, in a press conference after the meeting with the unions, that the State’s economic effort —in the entire proposal for 2023— was 1,200 million euros, and that amount includes not only the cost of salary updating ranging from 2% to 8% (for those who earn less), but also the revision of the single salary scale and promotions/progressions.
In the press conference, Vieira da Silva had already reinforced that 1,200 million euros represented a great effort on the part of the State, and that, therefore, increasing all employees, transversally, by 7.4% (amount provided by the Government for 2022 inflation) would be unaffordable.
A transversal increase in salaries of 7.4% in the public service would be “unaffordable”, guarantees Mariana Vieira da Silva
At the conference, he stressed that the Government must “take into account that the budget space must guarantee salary updates, career reviews and also the maintenance of progressions and promotions, which is what guarantees civil servants a career review.”
Hours later, in an interview with RTP, he reinforced the importance of making a proposal for four years, which provides predictability at a time of uncertainty. The Government points to an inflation of 7.4%, but the average increases for the civil service will be 3.6%, since for those who earn 705 euros (minimum salary) the increase will be 8%. Inflation traps everyone, but penalizes those who earn less, he stressed. He also admitted that with all the components of the remuneration, the Government is proposing a higher valuation than the one suggested, in the negotiation of the rent agreement in social agreement, to the private sector (4.8%). Now, the set of measures proposed to civil servant unions reaches an appreciation of 5.1%, highlighted Mariana Vieira da Silva.
Wages to be raised until 2026, overtime to be increased and IRS scales updated. What the Government proposes in the Income Agreement
Mariana Vieira da Silva, also from RTP, chose not to reveal whether these increases will not be devoured by the SII, saying that “we must wait for the approval of the State Budget and delivery to the Assembly of the Republic.” As reported by Negócios, the Government will meet tomorrow in a council of ministers to finalize the State Budget project that will be presented to the parties on Friday, the 7th.
But it is because of the budget that Mariana Vieira da Silva left few doors open for bigger changes in the next round of negotiations, on Friday. “The Government has the obligation to look at inflation but also at the entire context.” And so, in this uncertainty, it already presents the four-year plan, guaranteeing that “this is our proposal.” But, “knowing that each year we will have to adjust this proposal according to conditions and inflation.” But she assured: “this is our starting point”.
The proposal, “which we make for the rest of the legislature, is a great effort on the part of the State, within the framework of what we can pay, trying not to take a bigger step than what the country can guarantee.”
In addition to the salary update, between 2% and 8%, the Government wants the difference between the salary of senior technicians and that of operational assistants to remain at 500 euros, with the aim of making the career more attractive. Whoever earns the minimum wage today in the public service (705 euros) will rise in 2023 to 761.58 euros.
Source: Observadora
