Approximately 500 people protested in Lisbon this Friday demanding salary increases in the public administration following the Ministry of Finance's failure to respond to the demands of the Common Front of Public Administration Unions. The protest began at Praça da Figueira and moved to the Ministry of Finance. Demonstrators carried banners calling for better working conditions and the valorisation of public sector workers. Sebastião Santana, coordinator of the Common Front, criticised Finance Minister Joaquim Miranda Sarmento for the lack of response to a negotiation request submitted in January. The union is demanding a 15% salary increase with a minimum of 150 euros to combat the loss of purchasing power. Tiago Oliveira, secretary-general of the CGTP, also attended, criticising the government of Luís Montenegro for its approach to labour relations and its handling of other sectors, such as the Lusa news agency.