Azores Government Steps In to Pay Lajes Base Workers' Delayed Salaries, Criticizes National Government's Inaction

Azores Government Announces Advance Payment for Lajes Base Workers

Portuguese workers at the Lajes Base with delayed salaries can access an advance starting Monday, the Regional Government of the Azores (PSD/CDS-PP/PPM) announced this Saturday.

The Azorean executive published in the Official Journal the ordinance regulating the granting of a temporary, reimbursable social financial support, corresponding to the advance of overdue wages for workers attached to the United States Forces in the Azores (USFORAZORES), at Lajes, on Terceira Island.

According to a statement from the Azorean executive, with the ordinance coming into effect, these workers can voluntarily go to the Azores Social Security Institute (ISSA) starting Monday "to begin the process of granting this support."

"This exceptional and temporary measure aims to mitigate the economic and social effects resulting from the suspension of wage payments by a foreign employer, ensuring workers temporarily maintain their usual income until this situation is regularized," it is justified.

The ordinance sets the maximum funding amount, the management rules for contracts to be signed by ISSA, and the procedure for granting support, under the terms of the Council of Government Resolution No. 149-A/2025, of November 5.

"[The Government of the Republic] demonstrated an unacceptable disinterest in the Azoreans who serve the country at a base crucial for international security and stability."

In the note, it is explained that the financial support "corresponds to the net overdue wages, until normal payroll processing is restored by the employer, with reference to the salary period from September 7 to September 20, 2025."

"The amounts advanced to each worker are fully reimbursed, within a maximum of ten business days after receiving the corresponding wages from the employer," it reads.

The Vice-President of the Regional Government of the Azores, Artur Lima, quoted in the note, stated that the solution "makes it clear that the Regional Government acts, is present, and fulfills through its governmental action with the Azorean people."

The governor emphasized, however, that the Government of the Republic "demonstrated an unacceptable disinterest in the Azoreans who serve the country at a base crucial for international security and stability."

Artur Lima also said that the commitment and dedication of the professionals "remained unchanged", demonstrating "the resilience and spirit of the Azorean cause."

Salaries at the Lajes Base on Terceira Island are paid biweekly. The October 17 biweekly payment was made with cuts, and the October 27 biweekly payment was not paid to about 450 Portuguese workers due to the shutdown of the North American administration.

On Wednesday, the Government of the Azores authorized ISSA to sign financing contracts with banks up to 1.2 million euros to pay the salaries of Portuguese workers at the Lajes Base.

The costs will be assumed by the Azores, through Social Security, "without prejudice to their respective reimbursement by the Government of the Republic."

The President of the Regional Government, José Manuel Bolieiro, had already said that the Azores would guarantee the salaries of those workers through an agreement with the banks, if the Government of the Republic did not ensure the wages.

On Friday, in a hearing in the Azorean parliament, Vice-President Artur Lima again accused the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense of abandoning the Portuguese workers at the Lajes Base with overdue salaries.

The governor recalled that a week ago he sent a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Paulo Rangel, about the situation, but "to date there has been no response".

"I consider this a lack of respect for the Government of the Azores and for the self-governing bodies of the Autonomous Region of the Azores," stressed Artur Lima, emphasizing that the matter "is indeed complicated and has been a complex process."

The Vice-President also lamented the absence of "collaboration" from the Minister of Social Security and said that "the Regional Government is substituting itself for what are the obligations of the Government of the Republic."