Portugal: social consultation starts over the minimum wage

Antonio Costa’s new socialist government has launched a debate on raising Portugal’s minimum wage. The Prime Minister invited the country’s social partners in person to the first social consultation meeting held on Thursday 10 December, which went off without a hitch but which was held with disagreement reigning between the partners. The government proposed raising the minimum wage from €530 a month in 2016 to €600 in 2019. The unions are calling for a higher level for 2016 and employers have rejected both proposals. Nevertheless the government intends to quickly come to agreement in order to raise the minimum wage by 01 January 2016.
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Government proposal. Portugal’s socialist Prime Minister, Antonio Costa is commitment to progress on raising the minimum wage (SMN). He quickly called for a first social consultation meeting on 10 December; just one week after the National Assembly adopted the government’s national program. The proposal is to raise the minimum wage in tranches. Firstly the SMN would rise to €530 in 2016 as compared to the current level of €505 gross per month over 14 months. The SMN would then rise progressivel

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