[Portugal] Number of minimum wage workers decreases

In Portugal, according to Ministry of Labour data, the percentage of workers receiving the national minimum wage fell 2.2 percentage points in the first quarter of the year - compared to the same period last year - to 22.4 per cent, The Portugal News reports.

The document was presented at a meeting with the social partners. It did not detail the total number of workers currently receiving the national minimum wage.

The ministry reportedly said that the decrease in the percentage of workers earning the minimum wage "was transversal to both genders and young people (-3.0 percentage points (p.p.) for women, -1.5 p.p. for men and -2.6 p.p. for workers under 25 years old)."

"In March 2023, there were 80 thousand fewer workers" with the national minimum wage compared to March 2022, "despite the volume of employment having grown".

In addition, the document reportedly states that around 107,000 workers changed jobs between October 2022 and March 2023, achieving an average salary increase of 13 per cent; around 150 euros.

Of the total number of workers who changed jobs, 52,000 are said to be young people who received, on average, raises of 16 per cent (about 160 euros) in the same six-month period.

The Government also reiterated that, in general terms, until April, wages grew on average by around 8 per cent compared to last year. Increasing to 1,328 euros, at the same time as there was an increase in declared employment (180,000 more workers compared with 2022).

Source: The Portugal News

(Quotes via original reporting)

In Portugal, according to Ministry of Labour data, the percentage of workers receiving the national minimum wage fell 2.2 percentage points in the first quarter of the year - compared to the same period last year - to 22.4 per cent, The Portugal News reports.

The document was presented at a meeting with the social partners. It did not detail the total number of workers currently receiving the national minimum wage.

The ministry reportedly said that the decrease in the percentage of workers earning the minimum wage "was transversal to both genders and young people (-3.0 percentage points (p.p.) for women, -1.5 p.p. for men and -2.6 p.p. for workers under 25 years old)."

"In March 2023, there were 80 thousand fewer workers" with the national minimum wage compared to March 2022, "despite the volume of employment having grown".

In addition, the document reportedly states that around 107,000 workers changed jobs between October 2022 and March 2023, achieving an average salary increase of 13 per cent; around 150 euros.

Of the total number of workers who changed jobs, 52,000 are said to be young people who received, on average, raises of 16 per cent (about 160 euros) in the same six-month period.

The Government also reiterated that, in general terms, until April, wages grew on average by around 8 per cent compared to last year. Increasing to 1,328 euros, at the same time as there was an increase in declared employment (180,000 more workers compared with 2022).

Source: The Portugal News

(Quotes via original reporting)