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Social Policy (Basic Aims and Standards) Convention, 1962 (No. 117) - Portugal (RATIFICATION: 1981)

The Committee takes note of the observations of the Confederation of Portuguese Industry (CIP) received on 10 August 2018. The Government is requested to provide its comments in this respect.

Parts I and II of the Convention. Improvement of standards of living. The Committee notes with interest the Government’s detailed report for the period ending in May 2018, which includes full information in response to the Committee’s 2015 Observation. The Government indicates that the measures mentioned in the previous report were strengthened and broadened as from the beginning of 2016, in order to boost the recovery of disposable family income, improve living conditions and social cohesion, and reboot the economy. The Committee further notes a series of social protection measures taken by the Government, including an update of social security benefits pursuant to Ordinance No. 4/2017 of 3 January, the payment of unemployment, family and pension benefits, as well as the social protection provided under the general social security regime. The Government reports that the poverty rate fell from 19 per cent in 2015 to 18.3 per cent in 2016, with social transfers contributing to 60 per cent of this reduction. The Committee notes that the guaranteed minimum monthly wage (GMMW), which had remained unchanged in value at €485 between January 2011 and September 2014, rose gradually following consultations with the social partners. In December 2017, the GMMW was raised to €580 pursuant to Decree No. 156/2017 of 28 December. The Government indicates that this income policy drove economic recovery and growth by boosting the disposable income of families, especially those in the most vulnerable situations and at risk of poverty and exclusion, low-income workers. The Committee further notes a series of measures taken to improve the standards of living of disadvantaged groups, including persons with disabilities, as well as measures to promote the labour market integration of migrants. In its observations, the CIP indicates that progress has been achieved in improving the standard of living of the population, through measures taken in consultation with the social partners, notably by updating the GMMW. The Committee requests the Government to continue to provide detailed updated information on the results achieved by social policy programmes and other initiatives intended to ensure that the improvement of standards of living is regarded as the principal objective in the planning of economic development in accordance with Article 2 of the Convention. It also requests the Government to provide updated detailed information, including statistics disaggregated by sex, age and region, on the impact of the social reforms on the well-being of the population and the improvement of living standards in the country, particularly the levels of poverty.