A statement from the NGO outlines concerns about the announcement stating that “The government’s announcement of bringing into force wage equality laws has left us perplexed”, adding that “legislation has long been enshrined but in practice has not been fulfilled.”


The law on equal pay for equal work came into force on 21 February and aims to “promote an effective fight against pay inequalities between men and women”, according to a statement from the minister’s office for Labour, Solidarity and Social Security.


The latest data from the ministry has found that inequality continues to persist between men and women in the workplace with women earning on average 14.9 percent less than men.


While the MDM acknowledge the importance of strengthening mechanisms to enforce equal pay in Portugal they note that “equality measures have been in place in Portugal for 22 years” and that “16 years ago the Labour Working Code of working conditions for workers of both sexes was brought in”.


MDM added that “various governments have been limited to benevolent statements about pay disparity. The renewed promises to guarantee equal pay have remained unfulfilled.”