“Around 880 thousand workers will, from today, benefit from the increase in the National Minimum Wage to 705 euros. This increase of 40 euros is the biggest increase ever, fulfilling the commitment of reaching 2023 with 750 euros of SMN", reads a message published by António Costa on his official Twitter account.

According to the chief executive, "during the last six years, the SMN has increased by around 40%, with employment and the economy continuing to grow. The increase in the SMN is of the most elementary social justice and drives the general improvement of salaries”, he indicated.

In another message on Twitter, António Costa also signalled the entry into force the Statute of Cultural Professionals, which he considered to be an “important milestone for the cultural sector in Portugal”.

“For the first time, artists, technicians and other cultural workers have a specific regime of social protection and labour rights”, stressed the prime minister. The Cultural Professionals Statute, which defines the legal framework for self-employed workers in this sector, came into force on January 1, but some of the measures will only be applied throughout the year.

With regard to the minimum wage, the SMN rose from 665 euros to 705 euros on January 1, 2022, an increase of 40 euros or about 6%. The national minimum wage was created in 1974, with a value of 3,300 escudos (16.5 euros), and until reaching 705 euros in 2022 it had increases between 31.6%, in 1979, and 2.1%, in 2011.

According to an analysis by the CGTP, if the SMN had evolved in line with productivity and inflation registered since 1974, in 2020 it would have reached a value of 1,137 euros.