Portugal's Social Minister Ana Mendes Godinho accuses government of discriminating social sector in PRR

The Portuguese Socialist Party (PS) and the Confederation National of Solidarity Institutions (CNIS) said the government is applying discriminatory rules to the social sector under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR). Minister Ana Mendes Godinho warned that the exclusion of social equipment – such as crèches, residential homes for the elderly and facilities for people with disabilities – from the "substantial completion" criteria could force institutions to repay EU funds and jeopardise the largest social investment in decades.

The Union of Health, Solidarity and Social Security Workers (STSSS) also criticised the government, accusing Prime Minister António Costa of lying about the new Single Social Benefit (Prestação Social Única). The union highlighted significant cuts to 13 existing benefits, giving examples of reduced payments for unemployed workers, single mothers and low‑income seniors. Labour Minister Maria do Rosário da Palma Ramalho acknowledged some reductions may occur but urged a holistic view of the measure.