Increasing the cost of living in Portugal requires a “robust” rise in wages, argues CGTP – O Jornal Económico
Since January 1, 2022, the Portuguese have seen the cost of living rise in the face of rising prices for goods, various services and housing. According to data from the National Institute of Statistics, prices rose by 2.8% between December 2020 and December 2021, accelerating compared to previous months.
This is happening, as taxpayers earning the minimum wage prepare to see a €40 increase in the data already this month, to a total of €705. In view of this disparity, the General Confederation of Portuguese Workers – National Intersindical (CGTP-IN) calls for the “wages of all workers to be increased, including a greater increase in the national minimum wage”, also including an increase in pensions and other benefits social.
In a statement, an association headed by Isabel Camarinha recalls that “electricity, gas, telecommunications, transport and tolls, food (bread, vegetables, fish, meat, oil, etc.), clothing or insurance have announced increases by the large private companies that dominate most of these sectors”. In addition to these, the housing price must also follow this evolution.
All these increases, defends the union association, “is also reflected in the increase of poverty and social exclusion in our country”.
According to the CGTP, in the space of one year, “poverty affected over 230 thousand people and the poor or socially excluded population exceeds 2.3 million at the end of 2020”.
In view of these alerts, a CGTP-IN alert to the Portuguese that on January 30th “the workers’ vote demands the alteration of the options and policies that instituted this model that we have in our country and that there is an effective response to the problems and interests of the workers and the country”.