The national secretariat of UGT meets this Monday to approve its policy for 2025, measures around salaries, the labor market and housing are among the priority issues.
“Naturally the labor market issue “has a strong component in this list of demands,” in addition to the salary component, anticipates Mário Mourão, in statements to the Lusa agency, about the meeting on Monday, the day in which the UGT celebrates its 46th anniversary.
“Salaries continue to be a fundamental aspect for the motivation of workers, companies and the debate on negotiation” and there is “a consensus in Portugal that We have a country with low wages.“Adds the general secretary of UGT, preferring not to reveal specific proposals. We need to “turn this around”points out.
The UGT, together with the four business confederations, signed the tripartite agreement on “salary revaluation and economic growth for 2025-2028”which revised upwards the trajectory of the national minimum wage, foreseeing increases of 50 euros annually until 2028. For next year, it was decided that the guaranteed minimum wage will increase from the current 820 euros to 870 euros, that is, below the 890 euros already defended by UGT.
In terms of salaries, the negotiation process between the Government and Public Administration unions is still continuing, with a view to the general update of salaries. Regarding the remuneration base of the Public Administration (BRAP), the executive proposes that it rise to 870.50 euros next year, while for the general update of salaries he proposes an increase of 55.26 euros (the equivalent of a remuneration level of the Single Remuneration Table) or a minimum of 2.1%, below the inflation expected for 2025 (2.3%).
In statements to Lusa, the general secretary of UGT asks the Government, which make “an effort” to “go further”in order to “value salaries” and recognize the “importance that Public Administration has in the country and in public services.”
A new round of negotiations on this matter is scheduled for Tuesday and the general secretary of UGT admits that an agreement may be possible if the Government improves the proposal. “I think there could be negotiation and agreement with the unions that are negotiating, specifically those of UGT,” he assumes.
Mário Mourão also points out that in Portugal there is a high tax burden “especially with a strong link in the workplace”, so this is another of the “strong” components of the list of claims.
On the other hand, UGT wants to continue betting on “promoting collective bargaining”, to respond to the “challenges” currently posed by the labor market. “There are new realities in the labor market, namely digital platforms and Our unions also need to invest heavily in supporting digital platform workers.“, he defends.
“The housing crisis is also important for us,” says the general secretary of UGT, highlighting that “people continue to have great difficulties” in paying “the rent and high fees” for their homes, which is why this article ” demands the highest priority and attention.
“It is not worth fighting against low salaries and then having other aspects that, in fact, eliminate what salary updates are,” he maintains.
Source: Observadora
