Artur Lima welcomes 4.7% pay rise for Lajes Base workers - Communication

Vice-Presidência do Governo Regional

The Vice-President of the Regional Government, Artur Lima, accompanied by the Regional Director for European Affairs and External Cooperation, attended the 51st Permanent Bilateral Commission (PBC) between Portugal and the United States of America (USA), held in Washington on Tuesday.

This meeting addressed issues concerning the Lajes Base, namely the salary scales of the Portuguese labour force, the decontamination of the Praia da Vitória soil and aquifers, and strategic cooperation in emerging areas such as science and technology.

Following the meeting, Artur Lima welcomed the 4.7% pay rise for all Lajes Base workers, starting in July, which already raises most of the salary brackets above the regional minimum wage.

An agreement in principle has been reached and will be signed in the coming weeks to extend the Fair Wage Supplement to more brackets, covering all remaining situations and ensuring that seniority will not be affected.

However, the Vice-President of the Government reiterated that it is necessary to discuss a definitive and structural solution for the issue regarding salary scales, which will ensure that all Lajes Base workers have a decent and fair salary that will always be above the regional minimum wage.

Regarding the decontamination of the Praia da Vitória soils and aquifers, Artur Lima welcomed the work underway at site 3001, emphasising, once again, the need to continue with this type of action and monitor groundwater quality.