The left bloc will propose raising the minimum wage to 900 euros in 2024

The left bloc will propose in parliament to increase the national minimum wage to 900 euros in January 2024 and “update this value within a year to take into account inflation.”

This proposal is contained in a resolution of the National Council of the BE, the highest body between the congresses that met this Sunday in Lisbon, a text that states that the BE will propose in Parliament “an immediate increase in the national minimum wage to 900 euros in January.” 2024 and that this value is updated throughout the year to take into account inflation and the need to restore purchasing power.”

“[O BE] “also proposes to begin a negotiation process with trade unions and structures representing public administration workers and the public business sector, with the aim of updating the salaries of public administration workers, taking into account the increase in essential goods and a new structure of family expenses, which can also serve as a guideline for the private sector,” – states the resolution distributed to journalists at the end of the meeting.

In the text, the bloc’s leaders emphasize that in Portugal “the average salary is not enough to cover basic family expenses such as housing, higher education, transport, health care costs and food” and that in basic public services “quality and coverage have deteriorated” and ” their specialists became impoverished and lost hope.”

“The government is again showing a huge budget surplus, far exceeding the figures provided for in the state budget. This is a sign of poor policy and budget management as it reflects incorrect revenue forecasts and inadequate blocks for budgeting and meeting required expenditures. “.

According to BE, “correction of these deviations involves reducing the burden placed by the state on families.”

The party also criticized the right for its response “focused on regressive cuts to the IRS,” which it defined as “deceptive and irresponsible.”

“The PSD proposal with a total cost of 1,200 million euros will not help counteract the process of impoverishment and inequality, but rather will exacerbate it,” the blockers said.

The text also contains concerns about the housing crisis, with BE advocating “three emergency measures: cutting bank profits, preventing increases and planning for rent reductions (by zone and typology) and banning the sale of houses to non-residents.” foreigners living in Portugal.”

“In October, BE supports the organization of the European Left Party forum “The Right to Housing: Social Justice against Neoliberalism”, which will be held in Porto from 20 to 22 October, to discuss the experience of resistance and fight against real estate speculation and the financialization of housing, the experience of rent regulation, referendums on public housing, the organization of tenants, youth and students, as well as the intervention of mayors of several European cities and political figures at European level,” the text says.

Regarding the regional legislative elections in Madeira, which took place on September 24, the Bloc considered that the result, which brought victory to the PSD/HDZ coalition without an absolute majority, “confirms the erosion of the right-wing coalition in power,” adding that “It was also the PS that lost electoral representation , confirming the scenario of dissatisfaction with the main problems of the region, namely housing and the rising cost of living.”

For the blockers, the party’s return to the regional parliament “is a very good opportunity to strengthen the opposition to the new right-wing coalition, expanded to include the MHP.”

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, BE “reaffirms its defense of peace and an immediate ceasefire”, considering that European military support “to the invading Ukraine must be limited to defensive resources, without supporting any escalation” and that “European Union diplomatic initiatives must be accompanied defense of the Peace Conference under the auspices of the UN.”