Thousands of people in Portugal recently attended protests in Porto and Lisbon, organized by the General Confederation of the Portuguese Workers (CGTP). The protesters demanded higher wages, pensions, and improvements to social services like housing and healthcare. The protests, called ‘Increase Salaries and Pensions, Solve the Country’s Problems,’ were aimed at both the public and private sectors. The CGTP criticized a recent government deal with the General Union of Workers (UGT) and employer confederations that excluded CGTP members from negotiations on increasing the minimum wage to €870 by 2025. Protesters highlighted concerns about unaffordable housing, limited access to healthcare, and the distribution of wealth in the country. One protester in Lisbon emphasized the need for workers to receive a larger share of the wealth they help to produce.
Portugal is considered one of the poorest countries in Western Europe, with over half of all workers earning less than €1,000 a month. Currently, the minimum wage in Portugal is €820 a month, and the government has proposed raising it by €50 a year until 2028, eventually reaching €1,020 per month. Despite these increases, Portugal’s minimum wage remains significantly lower than that of other European Union countries. According to Eurostat data, Portugal ranks twelfth out of 22 member states with a minimum wage. The highest minimum wage in the EU is in Luxembourg, at €2,204 per month, followed by Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, and France.
The protests in Porto and Lisbon reflected widespread concerns among workers in Portugal about low wages, pensions, and the lack of affordable housing and medical care. Many protesters expressed frustration that their education had not led to better job opportunities or wages. The CGTP’s Secretary General, Tiago Oliveira, stated that political decisions have contributed to the day-to-day difficulties faced by workers in Portugal. The protests called attention to the need for a fairer distribution of wealth in the country, with a focus on ensuring that workers receive a larger share of the wealth they help generate. The CGTP’s activism represents a larger movement in Portugal advocating for increased salaries and pensions, as well as improvements in social services to address the country’s social and economic challenges.
The protests organized by the CGTP in Portugal highlighted the disparity between workers’ wages in the country and those in other European Union nations. The low minimum wage in Portugal, combined with high living costs and limited access to essential services, has led to widespread dissatisfaction among workers. The government’s proposal to gradually increase the minimum wage by 2028 has been met with skepticism by many protesters who argue that the current wage levels are inadequate to meet their basic needs. The protests underscore the urgent need for policymakers to address the systemic issues contributing to low wages and economic inequality in Portugal, as well as to prioritize the well-being of workers and their families.
Portugal’s position as one of the poorest countries in Western Europe underscores the challenges facing workers in the country, including low wages and limited access to essential services. The protests organized by the CGTP have drawn attention to these issues and have called for increased salaries, pensions, and improvements in social services. The disparity between Portugal’s minimum wage and that of other EU countries reflects broader concerns about economic inequality and the distribution of wealth. The protests in Porto and Lisbon represent a collective effort to demand fairer and more equitable conditions for workers in Portugal, as well as to address the systemic issues that perpetuate poverty and economic insecurity. By advocating for higher wages, better pensions, and improved social services, the protesters are working to create a more just and prosperous society for all citizens.
