“Lidl Portugal will make the largest salary investment in its history in 2026, totalling more than €12 million,” the retailer said in a statement reported by NM.

The strategy “reinforces the robustness of a remuneration package that starts at €1,000 gross per month for store and warehouse operators, with a 40-hour work week,” Lidl states, adding that “this value sets the benchmark for a policy that prioritizes stability, through permanent contracts for all positions from day one.”

The measure comes into effect in January and also covers clerks and section heads.

“The increase in the base salary from €900 to €1,000 represents an 11% increase, which is double the increase in the National Minimum Wage approved by the Council of Ministers,” Lidl emphasizes.

Adding the meal allowance of €9.60 per day, “the entry-level salary package reaches approximately €1,211 per month, exceeding €16,300 annually.”

“The salary progression follows the employee’s career path: upon reaching the highest level of their role, an operator’s base salary rises to €1,250, increasing the overall salary package to approximately €19,800 annually,” it adds.

All employees, regardless of their working hours, “benefit from health insurance, extending to home visits with special conditions, and also have free access to financial, legal, and psychological counselling services.”

Lidl asserts that “the care policy is inseparable from the guarantee of stability offered by the brand, which focuses on integration into the workforce through permanent contracts for all roles, eliminating precarious employment models.”

This security “is accompanied by a transparent annual progression model, with minimum increases of 5%, allowing many employees to accumulate two salary increases in the same year,” the retailer points out.

“This is the largest salary investment in our history and reflects our long-standing commitment to our employees and the Portuguese economy. Valuing our people will always mean valuing our future,” highlights Hélder Rocha, CEO of Lidl Portugal, quoted in a statement.