Government reaches agreement with unions to review the status of court officers

The Government and the two unions representing court officers — the Judicial Officers' Union and the Court Officers' Union — reached an agreement this Wednesday to review the professional status of the career, putting an end to negotiations that began in June 2024.

According to the note released by the Ministry of Justice, led by Minister Rita Alarcão Júdice, the agreement provides for the simplification of the career of judicial employees — with the reduction from seven to just two professional categories —, the increase in salaries and the review of the functions of these public employees.

With the new agreement, the categories of clerk and judicial technician now exist, which also includes the creation of the position of Secretary of Justice, whose appointment is based on a competition and on a service commission regime.

In terms of pay, the initial salary for these workers will increase to 1,547.83 euros, with the inclusion of a supplement for procedural recovery in the base salary, as requested by the unions, and the creation of a supplement for availability for work performed overtime. This new supplement provides for a limit of two hours per day overtime and can go up to 24 hours of overtime per month, being paid in phases and reaching 180 euros next year.

“This review of the career of judicial officers implies an additional effort of up to 18 million euros, in addition to the cost arising from the review of the procedural recovery supplement agreed in June 2024”, said the Ministry of Justice in a statement, clarifying that the agreement will come into effect from 1 January.

“The new 570 court officers, who opted for this career in the last admission competition, will benefit from the new Statute”, the ministry also clarified, considering it to be “urgent to attract a new generation of professionals” to this career.

The two unions were present at the negotiations on Wednesday, as well as the Deputy Secretary of State for Justice, Maria Clara Figueiredo, and the Secretary of State for Public Administration, Marisa Garrido.

The review of the professional status of the career was one of the oldest demands of this professional class and was at the center of the frequent strikes that negatively impacted the activity of the courts in recent years, particularly since 2023. As a consequence of these stoppages, thousands of trials were postponed and many legal acts remained unfulfilled.