In a note published on the website of his office late on Monday, the president announced that he had promulgated the legislation "despite the doubts that a political option of this nature always raises, in particular in the similar treatment of different situations, in the omission [of benefits for] other administrative levels and in the comparison with the national minimum salary", which since 1 January has been €600.

De Sousa justified his decision by arguing that "failing to promulgate would mean another sacrifice for a very significant share of the civil service, above all, in income received".

The decree-law in question was approved by the cabinet on 24 January.

"This update makes the value of the lowest base remuneration practised in the public administration coincide with the amount corresponding to the fourth remuneration level of the Single Remuneration Table," the government said in a statement issued after that cabinet meeting.