8.6% increase agreed
The Portugal News reports from Madeira that “we are facing the biggest increase in the regional minimum wage since 2015. This is a historic increase”, according to the regional secretary for Inclusion and Citizenship in the plenary of the Legislative Assembly of Madeira, in Funchal.
Rita Andrade pointed out that “for 2023, it was agreed, by a qualified majority, between the parties [social consultation], the proposal to set the regional minimum wage at 785 euros, with effects reported to January 1 of this year”.
The official stressed that the value represents “an increase of 8.6% compared to the previous year and an increase of 3.3% compared to the minimum wage fixed at the national level”.
Rita Andrade indicated that “the Region has historically been, since 1987, practising an average increase of 2% in its minimum wage in relation to that fixed at the national level, except in the years in which this increase was frozen”, stressing that “this year went further”, standing at 3.3%.
According to the official, “since 2015, people from Madeira have seen the regional minimum wage rise by almost 270 euros”, which means an increase of 52%.
The regional secretary reinforced that “this process has to be a balanced and fair measure”, being necessary to keep companies “competitive and capable of generating jobs”.
COVID-19 in Madeira: updates can be found in an earlier post
All the incidental news from Madeira – up to 60 reports per day – is being picked up automatically, translated, and posted on our sister website, madeiraislandnews, no matter how trivial:
how much is that per hour?
Not as high as UK for sure, I calculate €785 × 14 paid months per year = €10,990. Total worked 40 hours × 45 weeks per year (4 weeks holidays plus 14 Bank Holidays) = 1,808 hours gives an average hourly rate of €6.08
Michael,
My calculations are based on what most of the Madeirans I know well enough to speak of such matters, all in various branches of the Hospitality Industry, work a six day week, with a maximum of two weeks, paid for ? holiday. The only Bank Holiday I have seen recognised across the Restaurants is Christmas Day. Most waiting staff seem to work a split shift, 10-00 till 14-00 then 18-00 until tables are put away,11-00 ? A nine hour plus day. Or 14-00 until lock up, again a nine hour day. That’s a 54 hour working week.
My calculation is, your figure of £10,990 Euros per annum, Total worked hours 54 X 50 weeks per year, One Bank Holiday , Christmas Day but for simplicity we will ignore,
Total Euros earned, Your figure. 10990.00
Divide by actual numbers of weeks worked. 50
Euros per week. 219.80 Euros per week
Divide by 6, days worked. 36.60 Euros per day
Divide by 9, hours worked, per day 4.07 Euros per hour.
Four Euros an hour, which a lot of our commentators describe, witheringly as an unskilled job.
On top of this they put up with multi national load of bad mannered, whiners and groaners all who want to eat at 8-30 and have the main course, freshly cooked, in front of them within 10 minutes of ordering.
I salute and tip them.
Thank you
Thank you very much
Increase of About half the price of a small coffee per hour.