The Portuguese government has officially announced a 50-euro increase to the national minimum wage, which will take effect starting in 2026. With this measure, the minimum wage in the country will rise from the current 870 euros to 920 euros (approximately 1,076 US dollars), consolidating a trend of recovering purchasing power. The decision was announced by the Minister of the Presidency, Antonio Leitão Amaro, following a Council of Ministers meeting, where he described the adjustment as a "significant increase" for the family economy. This increase is part of a multi-year roadmap that aims to provide predictability for both workers and businesses. According to the strategic agreement originally signed in October 2024, the new minimum wage value is part of a fixed scale of increases for the coming years. The plan was agreed upon by the Government, the General Union of Workers of Portugal, and the employer confederations. The agreement provides for consecutive annual increases of 50 euros, with the goal of sustaining the wage improvement uninterrupted until 2028. Despite being initiated under the previous administration, the current government has ratified the continuity of the wage schedule, underlining the importance of institutional stability in Portugal's labor policy.
