Chega/Açores seeks cost-of-living action and four-day week report
Azores GuideChega/Açores has asked the Regional Government about tax, energy, food and housing costs, while seeking the results of the four-day week public administration pilot.
In a request to the regional parliament, Chega/Açores deputies asked the Azorean executive about possible reductions in taxes and fees, measures to lower fuel, electricity and gas costs, mechanisms to address essential goods prices, and responses to housing costs. Parliamentary leader José Pacheco said families need concrete measures that affect household budgets, including at the supermarket, fuel pump and on electricity bills. Chega/Açores said the response should include quantifiable measures that directly increase families' disposable income.
In a second request, the party asked the Regional Government to clarify the four-day week pilot project in the Regional Public Administration. The pilot began on 2026-01-02 and covered 13 services and about 380 workers. Their weekly hours moved from 35 to 32 without a pay reduction. Chega/Açores said the experiment ended on 2026-06-30 and that the project framework allowed a maximum of two months to complete the final report.
The party asked when the report was delivered, assessed and made public, and whether it includes productivity and service-quality indicators. It also sought details on whether workers returned to 35 hours, whether any services remain on 32 hours, and whether the project was extended or expanded. Francisco Lima said the results remain unknown. The request also asks about project costs, including scientific monitoring with the University of Reading, and whether overtime, additional staff or external services were used to compensate for reduced working time.
This site previously reported that Chega/Açores seeks affordable housing measures for working families.
Sources
Azores Guide
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