Regional Government and Social Partners Agree on €980 Minimum Wage for 2026
In a meeting held on November 11, 2025, the Economic and Social Concertation Council of Madeira, chaired by the Secretary for Inclusion, Labor, and Youth Paula Margarido, discussed the region’s minimum wage for the coming year.
It was announced that the minimum wage for 2026 would rise to €980, a €65 increase from the current €915. The proposed wage adjustment has been largely supported by regional social partners and is expected to be approved by the Regional Government Council and later by the Legislative Assembly of Madeira.
The agreed amount is part of the regional government's plan to gradually raise the minimum wage over the next few years, with the goal of reaching €1,200 by 2029. The government had previously set the national minimum wage for 2026 at €920, a €50 increase from €870 in 2025.
Social Partners' Consensus Lays Ground for Future Wage Increases
The new minimum wage proposal reflects close collaboration between the government and social partners in the region. During the negotiations, the partners presented figures that were strikingly similar to the government’s initial proposal, which helped speed up the deliberation process.
Paula Margarido emphasized that the increase was designed to follow the broader trend of economic growth in the region, with additional factors like the rise in public sector wages also influencing the decision.
The government plans to gradually raise the minimum wage each year, targeting €1,050 in 2027, €1,130 in 2028, and €1,213 by 2029.
€65 Increase Reflects Government's Economic Strategy for Madeira
The decision to increase the minimum wage in Madeira follows a pattern seen in other parts of Portugal. Nationally, the minimum wage will rise to €920 in 2026, up from €870 in 2025. The regional government in Madeira, however, opted for a slightly higher increase of €65 to better align with local economic conditions. "The increase is based on several factors, including the growth of the regional economy and the adjustments made to public sector wages," Margarido explained.
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