LISBON, March 19 — Thousands of protesters filled downtown Lisbon yesterday to demand greater wages and pensions, as well as govt intervention to cap soaring meals charges they say are strangling by now limited budgets.
Metalworker Paula Gonçalves, 51, reported people had been “protesting versus minimal wages, precariousness and for extra justice” for workers.
“We, the personnel, are the types who develop, we give every thing we have… and the gain is all for companies and almost nothing for us,” she mentioned.
Portugal is just one of Western Europe’s poorest countries and formal information shows that extra than 50 for each cent of Portuguese employees attained fewer than €1,000 (RM4,800) for each thirty day period final yr, even though the minimum amount wage is only €760 for each thirty day period.
According to Eurostat info, the least wage in Portugal — measured in acquiring ability parities and not at latest costs — in 2023 is €681 a thirty day period, the 12th most affordable of the 15 European Union countries that have bare minimum wages. It compares with €726 in Poland, €775 in Greece or €798 in Spain.
Portugal’s largest umbrella union, the CGTP, which identified as the protests, is contacting for wages and pensions to be elevated by at minimum 10 per cent quickly and would like the govt to impose caps on the selling price of basic meals.
Portugal’s economic climate minister Antonio Costa Silva dominated out on Friday any federal government intervention to stem soaring meals price ranges, seeing the market place as the very best cost-placing mechanism.
As of January 1, civil servants’ salaries had been up by an regular of 3.6 per cent from 2022 ranges and people of the personal sector grew by 5.1 for every cent, though pensions rose by a most of 4.83 for each cent, authorities details shows.
Portuguese inflation slowed to 8.2 for each cent in February from 8.4 for every cent the previous month. Selling prices of unprocessed food stuff merchandise, these as fruit and vegetables, surged 20.11 per cent.
A yr following Socialist Key Minister Antonio Costa received a bulk in parliament, he is struggling with road protests and strikes by lecturers, medical practitioners, railway staff, and other professionals.
“Each time I go to the grocery store I see that the (price ranges of) products and solutions boost a small more each individual day and wages do not comply with… it is urgent to cap the raise in the expense of dwelling,” reported Ana Amaral, 51, a medical center administrative assistant. — Reuters