Government and social partners to discuss 2027 budget and wage-transparency law on Wednesday

On Wednesday, the Portuguese government will convene a Concertação Social meeting at the Conselho Económico e Social in Lisbon, chaired by the Minister of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security. Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento will outline the state budget for 2027 and discuss the planned increase of the national minimum wage from one outlet €920 to €970. The 2024 tripartite pact, signed with the four business confederations and the UGT, targets a €1,100 minimum wage by 2029, a goal the Labour Minister says can only be altered through a new agreement, not unilaterally.

Unions are pressing for a higher rise, with CGTP demanding an immediate €1,050 level and both UGT and CGTP providing feedback on the proposed wage-transparency legislation, urging stronger provisions and more resources for the ACT and CITE. Business confederations warned that the draft law could impose excessive administrative costs and cautioned against adopting maximum-instead-of-minimum standards. The government has already sent the draft to social partners, but the European Commission has initiated infringement proceedings after Portugal failed to adopt the EU directive by the required deadline.