Union says government-approved police pay rise is peanuts

The National Police Union (Sinapol) considered on Thursday that the “crumbs” that the class will receive as a risk bonus show that the state does not value the security forces.

Sinapol’s statement comes after the Council of Ministers approved a risk supplement for the security forces (PSP, GNR and prison guards), which will be paid retroactively from July and which represents an increase of 200 euros this year, 250 euros next year and 300 euros from 2026.

The increase was eventually approved by the PSP trade union platform and the GNR socio-professional associations after months of negotiations with the government, with the Professional Police Union (SPP/PSP) and Sinapol rejecting the agreement.

At a press conference following the Council of Ministers meeting, Presidential Minister António Leitão Amaru stressed that this was the “biggest increase” in security forces and “a fair assessment to correct a historical error.”

However, President Sinapola maintains that this increase “is just crumbs” compared to the risk subsidy that the previous government, led by Socialist António Costa, allocated to the judicial police (700 euros), regretting that “out of the 200 euros gross, if you increase it, the superintendent will receive 95 euros net, and the agent 130”.

In the note, Sinapol President Armando Ferreira states that he has already asked the President of the Republic to hold hearings and is also negotiating with parliamentary groups with the aim of “correcting the government’s error.”

“This is a bad agreement that in no way serves the dignity, honour and interests of the police,” the union leader criticises, recalling that the government ignored Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa’s recommendation.