Ventura criticizes ‘weak program’ that doesn’t ease tax burden on companies

Chega President André Ventura criticized this Sunday the income agreement signed on Saturday between the government and members of the social consultation, noting that “it will not solve most of the problems.”

“I think this agreement falls far short of what we need at the moment and what the government has announced,” Ventura told reporters at the start of a visit to the October fair in Vila Franca de Xira in Lisbon. area. .

The agreement was signed with the General Union of Workers (UGT), the Confederation of Portuguese Farmers (CAP), the Confederation of Commerce and Services of Portugal (CCP) and the Confederation of Tourism of Portugal (CTP). other measures, increasing the minimum wage to 820 euros.

Andre Ventura noted that the document does not provide for any form of reduction in the tax burden on companies, which, according to him, would allow paying higher salaries.

“We don’t have any structural measures to address the tax burden on companies. Progressive relief from the IRS has been announced, but we have no news,” he said, awaiting the government’s presentation of the 2024 state budget. parliament on Tuesday.

Andre Ventura noted that his party will present a proposal “to pay employees tax-free for the 15th month.”

President Chegi emphasized that “measures are needed to stimulate the economy, support companies, and increase wages,” including in the healthcare sector.

“If we don’t actually invest in human resources SNS [Serviço Nacional de Saúde]By creating a regime of self-attractiveness, we can do whatever we want, but we will have to continue to import doctors and export the best we have. And this requires investment. It is this investment, this shock of investment in the social network that the government must announce,” said Andre Ventura.

The MP demanded a new model for managing the National Health Service and a reduction in VAT (consumption tax).

“The Government had a reserve in this budget, this is probably the last year in which we had a reserve, we receive funds from the PDP. [Plano de Recuperação e Resiliência] and we are still benefiting from a certain economic cycle. The government will again choose a budget for surgical patches,” he criticized.

The document, signed on Saturday, contains 54 points based on five axes: increasing wages, attracting and retaining talent, non-wage income of workers, measures relating to taxation and company financing, as well as administrative simplifications and contextual costs.