Lisbon, Sept. 15, 2026 (Lusa) - The Federation of Public Administration Trade Unions (Fesap) plans to propose that the government raise basic pay in the civil service to €1,050 in 2027, with a minimum increase of 6.5% (€95) for all workers.

Fesap's expectation for 2027 is that the government will go «beyond» the increases set out in the multi-year agreement currently in force, in light of «rising inflation, rising fuel prices, rising [cost] of housing and the rise in the cost of essential goods», Fesap's general secretary said on Tuesday.

José Abraão was speaking at a press conference in Lisbon to present the list of demands for 2027, which includes proposals for the 2027 State Budget (OE2027).

Accordingly, the UGT union proposes that the civil service pay scale (commonly known as the state minimum wage) rise to €1,050 next year, with a minimum increase of 6.5% or €95 for all workers.

«The government now has a good opportunity here to increase the minimum wage, but also to raise the public sector pay base (BRAP),» emphasises José Abraão, highlighting the importance of maintaining a gap between the BRAP and the guaranteed minimum wage.

This proposal exceeds the figure set out in the current multi-year agreement, which provides for pay rises of 2.30%, with a minimum of €60.52.

Furthermore, as last year, Fesap is again demanding that the meal allowance be increased to €10 per day, tax-free.

«People need more than €6.15 to eat. And I must even point out that there are now canteens in some public services that charge more than the €6.15 people receive,» notes the Fesap general secretary.

The new agreement, signed on 21 January between the government, Fesap and the STE, stipulates that the meal allowance, currently set at €6.15, is to rise by 15 cents per year until 2029.

Fesap also highlights the need to review the value of allowances, noting that this was due to begin in the second quarter of 2026.

«We are nearing the end of the year; we began the negotiation process, and it has clearly stalled. And, as it has stalled, we must make it clear to the Government that, regardless of any review that may be carried out of the remuneration regulations or even the regulations governing senior management, we must secure an increase in allowances this year, so that workers can be fairly compensated for their efforts,» said José Abraão.

When asked whether they had a specific proposal for the allowance increase, the Fesap general secretary declined to name a figure but highlighted the need to take inflation trends into account.

«We are leaving room for manoeuvre here so that the government can improve the agreement we have, enabling us to move forward in a serious and responsible manner,» he added.

In its list of demands, Fesap also highlights the urgent need to review general career structures.

«Significant progress must be made,» warns the Fesap general secretary, emphasising that the effects of this review must take effect from January 2027.

As regards special career structures, he highlighted «significant delays», He noted that the cabinet has already approved some pieces of legislation and the President of the Republic has even promulgated others, yet they await publication in the Official Gazette before they can take effect. He referred in particular to social reintegration workers, senior health technicians, hospital administrators and forest rangers.

He also highlighted the SIADAP review process, due to begin in the second half of this year, though no meetings have been scheduled yet.

«There are thousands of workers in healthcare, education, local authorities and a wide range of other services who are still awaiting their performance appraisals for years 23, 24, 25 and 26, and even earlier years, and the government must take action on this matter,» he added.

Fesap also argues that «pensions, whether from the Social Security scheme or the Civil Service Pension Fund (Caixa Geral de Aposentações), should be increased significantly and not just by these paltry euros that are allocated as a top-up», said José Abraão, referring to the announcement of the extraordinary supplement to be paid to pensioners with the lowest pensions.

Fesap's proposal is due to be discussed with the Government during the usual negotiations on the draft State Budget for 2027 (OE2027), for which a date is yet to be set.

JMF/ADB // ADB.

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