Background information

The 'extraordinary support to children and large families' was decided by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers 74-A/2022 of 6 September 2022 which announced the package of extraordinary measures 'Families First' (Familias Primeiro) in view to directly support the purchasing power of families and mitigate the effects of rising prices for essential goods.

Content of measure

The one-off measure applies to all families, regardless of income, and consists of an extraordinary payment of €50 for each descendant up to the age of 24, who are in their care. If there are dependents with disabilities, the age limit does not apply. This support will also be paid in October and it is exempt of taxes. It is a complementary measure in relation to the 'extraordinary support to holders of income and social benefits' (see related case , but does not depend on the family income. Those who were students in 2021 and started working this year will be counted as dependent and will be entitled to benefit from the support of €50 (Jornal de Negócios, 6 September 2022).

Use of measure

According to the Minister of Labour, the support will cover 2.2 million children and young people and will cost €110 million (Jornal de Negócios, 6 September 2022).

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Children (minors) Parents Disabled

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	Informed	Informed
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

Social partners were informed. No specific reactions.

Views and reactions

The trade union confederations did not commented specifically on this measure but broadly on the 'Family first' package. The trade union confederation CGTP considered that the package 'Families first' does not respond to the structural problems that the country faces' and "insufficient to compensate for the income losses accumulated in the first 10 months of this year" (...), it may help the month of October, but neglects that the needs of workers and their families are not punctual, but permanent." (Diário de Noticias, 6 September 2022). The trade union confederation UGT highlighted that the measures of the package 'Families first' were necessary but too late and insufficient. However, they appreciated the package positively, on the grounds that "most measures contribute to relieving the finances of families, they cover a normally excluded middle class (...), a different option than in the past, once the support is channeled directly to the people'.(Expresso, 8 September 2022).

The employer confederation CIP highlighted the package for families was important but that the government should provide help to the companies at the same time (RTP Noticias, 5 September 2022).

Sources

• 06 September 2022: Decree-Law 57-C/2022 of 6 September (dre.pt)
• 06 September 2022: Resolução do Conselho de Ministros n.º 74-A/2022, de 6 de setembr (dre.pt)