On Tuesday, the CGTP criticized the proposed government budget for 2024 (OE204), deeming that the document “does not meet the needs” of the country, while at the same time providing “tax-free benefits” to large companies making millions in profits.
Speaking to Lusa, CGTP secretary general Isabel Camarinha said that while she had not yet made a “more precise and in-depth assessment” of the OE2024 proposal tabled in Parliament on Tuesday, the government’s options show there is a “huge set of issues ” that remain, namely the investments that need to be made in public services, in the social functions of the state, in the assessment of workers, in ensuring the rights to health and education, and in increasing reforms and pensions in an environment where purchasing power is being replaced and improved.”
The government included in OE2024 “a set of negotiations that took place with the employer confederations and with the UGT that do not meet the needs,” he added.
“If, on the one hand, they set a minimum wage of 820 euros and a 5% cap on overall wage increases, on the other hand, they play a big role in increasing benefits and tax breaks at the IRC level, which is in this proposal will increase by more than 14.8%,” he criticized.
“We know very well that these benefits, incentives, these tax breaks are mainly used by large companies that have earned billions of euros in profits and have been obliged to guarantee decent wages,” said Isabel Camarinha.
For the union leader, the CGTP’s offer of a 15% wage increase with a guarantee of €150 per worker “is a guarantee of changing this pattern of low wages in the country.”
Regarding the renewal of pensions, Isabel Camarinha said that “the government can advertise that it will comply with the legal formula” but believes that “this is its minimum obligation.”
The government “may well increase pensions and pensions further, especially low ones,” he emphasized.
This Tuesday, the CGTU called for a general struggle for higher wages between October 25 and November 11, culminating on this last day with a nationwide demonstration in Lisbon and Porto for a general wage increase.
Setting the national minimum wage at €910 in January 2024, rising to €1,000 this year, is another requirement of the CGTP.