The initiative was approved with votes in favour from the PSD, abstentions from the PS and Chega, and votes against from the Liberal Initiative (IL) and the PCP.

In an explanation of her vote, the deputy and president of the IL justified her vote against the resolution on the grounds that the matter it addresses is covered by Article 273 of the Labour Code and that the resolution “is based on the wrong principle”.

Mariana Leitão argued that “successive increases by decree” do not create wealth and that setting the minimum wage by decree will not “change the country’s paradigm”.

On the PS side, Miguel Cabrita considered the proposal “redundant” and pointed out that, although the current Social Concertation agreement stipulates the objectives for the national minimum wage until 2028, this year the Government has not initiated any “additional discussion” on this matter and, on the other hand, is promoting precariousness with the draft reform of labour legislation.

Felicidade Vital, from Chega, also criticised the draft resolution, saying that “it is more of the same” and argued that it is up to the party that supports the government to “provide concrete answers”. While Alfredo Maia, from the PCP, said that the document “does not solve or address the causes” of the low wages facing the country and, along with Miguel Cabrita, pointed to the “offensive that is underway against workers and their rights”.

Social Democrat MP Carla Barros rejected criticism of the resolution’s redundancy, stating that it is “a reinforcement” of the PSD”s “continuous manifestation on “income and wage issues”, although she admits that “there is much to be done”.

The Social Democratic draft resolution recommends that the Government strengthen the debate in the Social Concertation to “continue to evolve in the progressive increase of citizens” incomes”, in particular the minimum wage and the average wage, although it does not define specific figures.

The agreement, signed in October 2024 between the Government, the four business confederations and the General Workers” Union (UGT), revised the national minimum wage upwards, providing for annual increases of €50 so that it reaches €1,020 in 2028.

However, following the general election on 18 May, the executive set a new target for the entire legislative term in its government programme, aiming for the guaranteed minimum wage to reach €1,100 gross per month in 2029.

The national minimum wage rose this year to €920, and the agreement provides for it to increase to €970 in 2027 and €1,020 in 2028.

On the other hand, this agreement also establishes benchmarks for the appreciation of the average wage (which does not depend on a government decree), predicting that it will reach €1,731 in 2026, €1,809 in 2027 and €1,890 in 2028.

The opinion to be submitted to the Committee on Budget, Finance and Public Administration on the General State Account for 2024 was also unanimously approved.