NEW’S | Salary increase support confirms “priority to people and to wealth generation capacity,” says José Manuel Bolieiro

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, praised today the recently created Salary Increase Support Mechanism (MAIS) for Azorean workers, expressing his satisfaction that priority is being given, “once again, in this governance, to people and to wealth generation capacity.”

“We believe that better salaries will lead to more productivity. But we also are aware of the efforts of employers who, without productivity, cannot raise salaries. We are granting public support to stimulate this path of productivity and income improvement,” he assured.

The President of the Government explained that MAIS consists of 174-Euro support granted per worker to private employers, including those in the social sector, with a view to encouraging and offsetting the increase of the minimum or average wage of their workers. It was created as a response to a “moment when we need to recognise the effort undertaken by employers in the face of the increasing costs of production factors.”

“This wage increase solution, under the MAIS designation, also seeks to unburden companies and the economy of production costs of companies and the economy,” he said.

Applications for MAIS, which may reach up to 55 thousand workers in the Region, representing a total public investment of 10 million Euros, can be submitted from 12 am today until the end of February, via the electronic form available on the emprego.azores.gov.pt  online platform. 

The President of the Regional Government visited today COFACO in the town of Rabo de Peixe, municipality of Ribeira Grande, to mark the entry of MAIS into force. He was accompanied by the Regional Secretary for Youth, Vocational Training and Employment, Maria João Carreiro, and the Regional Secretary for the Sea and Fisheries, Manuel São João.

GRA/RÁDIOILHÉU