CGTP says social security is an ‘essential and indispensable’ system

This Wednesday, on World Social Security Day, the CGTP said the system is “essential and indispensable in ensuring economic security” for all people and is a fundamental tool in the fight against poverty and inequality.

“The social security system plays an important and indispensable role in ensuring the economic security of all people, active and retired, as well as their families, being an essential tool in the fight against poverty, inequality and social exclusion, and in maintaining social cohesion,” says the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – Intersindical Nacional (CGTP-IN) in a statement published this Wednesday.

Despite this, the CGTP regrets that the system has been “under constant pressure for several years” and states that it is being called into question by demographic factors such as an aging population and declining birth rates, as well as the prevalence of precarious employment and low wages.

Added to these factors, which are driving down contribution income and increasing benefit costs, are “pressures from the private sector, in particular the insurance sector”, which the CGTP says wants to expand its intervention in the desired area of ​​social protection. protection”.

CGTP also reports that the new government, created as a result of the PSD-SDS-PP coalition, “does not hide its intentions.”

“The threats have not disappeared, on the contrary, with the coming to power of the current government, which does not hide its intentions, directly stating in its program that the solution to the problem of the social security system, in particular the state pension system, involves due to its privatization, at least partial, the risks to public social security have increased exponentially,” CGTP emphasizes.

The CGTP therefore asks that funding alternatives be sought that ensure the sustainability of the public social security system.

“The greatest challenge currently facing the public social security system is to guarantee its effective financial sustainability, preserving its integrity, without violating the principles of work and intergenerational solidarity on which it is based,” it emphasizes agreement.

CGTP believes that this path does not involve cutting social security contributions (TSU) or funding the system through taxes, caps or any other form of full or partial privatization of social security.

“We will not allow any reduction or limitation in the right of all citizens, present or future generations, to full protection in the event of illness, old age, disability, widowhood and orphanhood, unemployment, family support and any other situation of lack or reduction of funds. subsistence level or ability to work within the framework of the state social security system,” the CGTP statement emphasizes.