The PCP Secretary General opined on Friday that the government’s proposed increase in the national minimum wage to 820 euros is “highly inadequate”, challenging the PS and the opposition to set it at 910 euros.
On the day that parliament debates a draft resolution from the PCP recommending raising the minimum wage to 910 euros in January – up to 1,000 euros in 2024 – the party organized several initiatives to reach the population across the country, under the motto ‘ Enough talk, more salaries and pensions.”
Speaking to journalists, next to the Campo Grande metro station in Lisbon, the Secretary General of the PCP opined that the government’s proposed increase in the minimum wage to 820 euros is “very inadequate” and “does not correspond to reality, nor the conditions people face today.”
‘It is enough to take into account this concrete fact of yesterday [quinta-feira] was known: the price of food in Portugal increased by almost 7% in September last year and this year,” he said, considering that this figure shows the inadequacy of the executive’s proposal.
Asked whether the PCP would vote against the increase to 820 euros, Paulo Raimundo said his party would never vote against what would be a “gain for workers”, but stressed that the government’s proposal does not meet needs.
“Those who work, those who make the country and the economy work, those who produce wealth deserve, and it is fair that they get them, significant salary increases. And apart from this issue, we have to face the situation that we are experiencing today. ” he emphasized.
The PCP Secretary General thus defended that the 910 euros would “create conditions in which people can live with a minimum of dignity”, and reiterated that the party also defends an increase of at least 15% for all salaries, with a minimum of 150 %. euros, as proposed by CGTP.
Paulo Raimundo stated that the PCP is “very determined” on this issue and wondered how the PS, PSD, Chega and IL will position themselves in the communist resolution project that will be debated today, since, if they fail, “the mask will fall for everyone”.
“The moment they fail our proposal, they indirectly support the proposal that the government presents,” he said.
When asked whether he believes that the PS is willing to increase the minimum wage to 910 euros, Paulo Raimundo replied that the numbers and signs in the budget “do not go in that direction”, and instead “stretch the belt of the population even further.”
“It is a wrong option, because we had the presentation of the state budget, which included the announced part, and the part that was not announced is the most significant, because it is clear that there are millions and millions of tax breaks and privileges for big companies are. “, he said.
According to Paulo Raimundo, “you cannot announce very big efforts to increase revenues” and at the same time “bring more privileges under the carpet.”
“Raising wages today is a major national emergency. It is this measure that can help cope with all the other pressures we face,” he stressed.
Source: DN
