BC changes at work

Portuguese law very much stands up for the employee, although matters have been made more flexible in the last couple of years.

The constitutional court has put off more radical revisions of labour law.

a lot of employers tend to hire people on just a fixed-term contract of typically six months.

This way they get around problems with tenure. Getting around a problem" generally means finding a workaround or an alternative path when the direct route is blocked.

This way they get around problems with tenure.

You can draw up a contract to prevent the employee to claim

After three years, you are either taken on permanently or laid off.

there are a lot of highly qualified out of work people in Portugal.

Currently, there is a system of incentives in place which allow companies to pay only the social security contributions for an employee.

these people are employed on an intern basis and the state will pay them a minimum wage.

They might call it a traineeship, but they are not paying fully for it.

So, it has a positive impact in that respect.

but at least they are not lazing around and additionally they are earning a minimum wage

you could have the situation where someone feels too good for their job or what they are expected to do is beneath them

Another development in terms of the labour market is that a number of qualified young people are leaving sectors like the health sector.

In certain areas there is big brain drain which is emptying the pool of employees.

there are large numbers of people calling for work, but few companies are actively offering jobs.

Companies are closing down or reducing costs so they have no desire to employ new staff.

In an uncertain market, part-time work would seem to be an interesting solution.

Although part-time work is popular in many other countries in Europe, it does not seem to be widely taken up in Portugal. he will take up the challenge. He took up my offer to work for me

Perhaps one of the reasons is the relative cheapness of labour.

There appears to be little prejudice in that area and women are fully accepted in the job market and can apply for any job that men apply for

My employer requires a statement confirming that my absence is due to illness and supported by clinical findings to process my sick pay."

"I am writing to give notice of my resignation. My final day of work will be [Date]. I appreciate the opportunities I’ve had here and will ensure a smooth handover."

The 2025 Act has shortened the qualifying period for unfair dismissal claims from 2 to 6 months. Unions are the primary force that helps employees take these cases to a tribunal if a company tries to let you go while you're dealing with health issues.

The 2025 law also effectively banned unscrupulous "Fire and Rehire" tactics. If an employer makes you redundant but then immediately replaces you, it is now considered automatically unfair unless the company is facing total insolvency

"I am writing to formally notify you of my pregnancy and my intention to take maternity leave. My expected week of childbirth is [Date], and I plan to start my leave on [Date]. I will provide my MATB1 form as soon as it is issued by my midwife."

In 2025, job insecurity has become a primary stressor for nearly 54% of the workforce. It isn't just about the fear of losing a job; it's the "limbo" of working in an environment where the future feels unpredictable.

Job sharing is a flexible arrangement where two people share the responsibilities of one full-time role. Unlike standard part-time work, you are a "team of one," meaning you share the same goals, inbox, and accountability.

"After the company announced a mass redundancy, Sarah applied for unemployment benefit to help cover her mortgage while she searched for a new position."

The norm then is for people to stay for two and a half years and then they are only allowed to work the last six months if they are really very good

the current 2025 landscape is shaped by a high-demand, low-unemployment economy that gives employees significant leverage

There is a system of state-funded internships but they are no longer the "norm" for graduates. Because of the labor shortage, most "interns" are paid market rates by the companies themselves, rather than relying on minimum wage state subsidies.

Poland produces world-class medical professionals, but a massive financial gap in the National Health Fund in 2025 has led to "medical inflation" and underfunded hospitals. Many doctors continue to emigrate to Scandinavia for better working conditions.

As of January 2025, it rose to roughly 1,100 EUR, and is set to rise again in 2026. Labor is no longer "cheap." This has made part-time work more interesting for employers trying to manage costs, and for employees who value the "work-life balance"

Workers over 50 often feel "invisible" to recruiters. However, due to the shrinking working-age population some sectors are being forced to launch programs to bring older workers back into the fold,

Companies are being forced to launch programs to bring older workers back into the fold, simply because there aren't enough young people to fill the roles.

High brain drian, but offset by Eastern immigration.