Among the measures that have so far reduced the number of in-person appointments at Social Security are the increase in the validity period of payments from three to five days and the diversification of payment methods.

This diversification will take another step in July, the month in which it is expected that it will become possible to make payments via MBWay, said the minister, emphasising that in the Social Security system, more than 60% of services continue to be provided in person, despite the reduction of 450,000 services between January and April 20.

Maria do Rosário Ramalho also took stock of the work undertaken over the last 11 months, highlighting that this Government “has restored the centrality of dialogue in the Social Concertation”.

In this context, she stated that the change in labour legislation “if it exists, must be agreed with the social partners”, recognising, however, that it will be up to the Government that emerges from the elections on May 18, “to continue or not with this line of work”, which had been followed.

Maria do Rosário Ramalho said that, regardless of the fact that it is essential to increase the national minimum wage, it is equally important to establish a path that allows all wages to be valued and prevent the average wage from flattening.

In the context of Social Security, and after stating that “there is no doubt that Social Security is doing well today”, she mentioned the need to look at the sustainability of the system in the longer term and the trajectory of retirements, taking into account estimates that point to a reduction in the replacement rate in the future.

“It’s not to create alarm,” she said, but “to ensure that in the future everyone will have an adequate pension.”