CNIS agreements update wages and employment rights in the social sector

The JORAM has published amendments to three collective agreements concluded by the National Confederation of Solidarity Institutions (CNIS), affecting working conditions at institutions in the social sector. The changes cover minimum pay scales, allowances, weekly rest, birthday leave and career progression rules. The agreements provide for salary increases and other financial provisions to take effect from 1 January 2026; the allowance for normal Sunday work takes effect from 1 July 2026.

Collective agreements covered#

• CNIS and FNE - National Federation of Education and others: pay and other amendments to the collective agreement published in BTE No. 30 of 15 August 2025, corrected in BTE No. 43 of 22 November 2025. The agreement states that it covers 4,000 employers and 70,000 workers. The pay scales and financial provisions take effect on 1 January 2026.
• CNIS and the National Federation of Public and Social Service Workers' Unions - FNSTFPS: pay and other amendments to the agreement published in BTE No. 39 of 22 October 2025. The agreement states that it covers 3,000 employers and 63,000 workers. The pay scales and financial provisions take effect on 1 January 2026.
• CNIS and FEPCES - Portuguese Federation of Trade, Office and Service Workers' Unions and others: pay and other amendments to the agreement published in BTE No. 33 of 8 September 2025. The text states that it covers 3,000 employers and 63,000 workers and provides for the pay scales and financial provisions to take effect from 1 January 2026.

Sundays, rest and birthday leave#

Under all three agreements, normal Sunday work that is essential to service continuity and performed at facilities that do not have to suspend operations on that day entitles workers to an additional 100% of the corresponding pay for work exceeding two Sundays per month. This rule does not apply when a worker already receives the supplement provided for rotating shift work, and does not affect the right to weekly rest. The clause takes effect on 1 July 2026.

The FNE and FNSTFPS agreements provide that weekly rest on a Sunday must be granted at least once every six weeks, and that compulsory and additional rest days must be consecutive at least once during the same period. The FEPCES agreement also provides for Sunday rest at least once every six weeks, with compulsory and additional rest days consecutive at least once in every six-week period, applying the principle of rotation.

The FNSTFPS and FEPCES agreements include one day of leave for a worker's birthday, without loss of pay or seniority and without affecting the additional holiday entitlement. If the date falls on a rest day, public holiday or during annual leave, the day may be transferred under the terms set out in each agreement. Under the FNE agreement, the birthday is treated as an authorised absence, without loss of pay or seniority, and may be taken on a nearby working day if it falls on a rest day, public holiday or during annual leave.

Allowances, meals and career progression#

All three agreements set the cash-handling allowance for workers with actual cash-handling responsibilities at 40 euros per month in 2026. Under the FNE and FNSTFPS agreements, the meal allowance may be 5.50 euros for each full working day; the FNE text also provides that meal vouchers may be paid up to the amount corresponding to the income tax exemption limit. The FEPCES agreement sets the allowance at 5.50 euros per full working day.

The agreements also reorganise kitchen assistant roles into three grades - 3rd, 2nd and 1st - and require five years of good and effective service in the immediately lower grade for promotion. They provide for reclassification rules that safeguard the seniority and other rights of the workers concerned. The texts also amend the pay classification of certain occupational categories and set transitional rules for teachers previously classified in pay scale B-2.

The general minimum pay scales published in the agreements range from 920 euros at level 18 to 1,462 euros at level 1. The specific scales for teachers and educators vary according to career path, level and years of service, with separate amounts and grades in each agreement. The FNE agreement also corrects the pay classification of senior clerks and section deputy heads, and abolishes pay scale B-2 while retaining transitional arrangements for teachers previously classified under it.