The Portuguese Government published on September 7 a new law that makes salary increases and meal allowances mandatory for all workers in the footwear sector in mainland Portugal, covering almost 19,000 people. Previously, since March, there had been an agreement between APICCAPS (employers' association) and FESETE (workers' union), but this only applied to companies affiliated with these organizations.
The law establishes new minimum values according to professional category: in the highest categories, the minimum salary becomes 1,350 euros per month, in the intermediate ones it ranges between 920 and 1,150 euros, and in the lowest it corresponds to 736 euros (80% of the National Minimum Wage). The meal allowance also increases from 4 to 4.50 euros per day for all workers in the sector.
Of the approximately 24,900 full-time workers in the footwear sector and related activities, approximately 18,760 (three out of four) earned less than the new minimum values and will now receive the increase. The majority are women, representing seven out of ten beneficiaries of this salary adjustment.
Although the law comes into force around September 12, the increases are paid retroactively effective from July 1, 2026, requiring companies to compensate the difference from that date. The Government's objective is to guarantee equal minimum conditions for all workers and prevent non-affiliated companies from gaining an unfair competitive advantage. The law does not apply to the Azores or Madeira, where those decisions are the responsibility of the Regional Governments.
