The Portuguese labor code is complicated and sometimes contains secrets that few people know. Lisbob is the # 1 assistant for expats and its mission is to help you know all your rights and above all to know how to assert them. Portugal, like other European countries, offers workers a right to training which can, at the end of the working relationship, bring in several hundred euros. However, many companies play on not knowing this law so as not to have to pay this amount. Lisbob, the # 1 expatriate assistant, tells you all about this Portuguese labor law that could pay off.
How to receive more than 1,000 € at the end of your employment contract in Portugal (what companies are hiding from you)
Portuguese law stipulates that "all companies must organize vocational training, structure training plans" for their employees. The aim of this law is for Portuguese companies and workers to be better and better prepared for the demands of the global market.
Thus, continuing vocational training allows everyone to adapt to market changes and technological innovations much more quickly and efficiently. However, this law is often overlooked by companies recruiting expatriates, playing on their lack of knowledge of the labor code.
And what does the Portuguese labor code tell us? Article 131, paragraph 2, of the Labor Code is clear: each worker has the right to 35 hours of training per year. If he has worked for a period of between three months and one year, the rule of proportionality applies. In other words, if the contract is for six months, you will be entitled to 50% of 35 hours. As this training is compulsory, the worker cannot refuse to participate in actions of this type.
This is where many employees miss out on a good opportunity to improve their skills or their bank account. Indeed, each worker has the freedom to choose the training they want, as long as it remains in the domain of the company for which they work. For example, language courses will be perfect for a company welcoming expatriates.
What happens when the company “forgets” to provide training to its employees? Once again, Portuguese law is clear: the training that is not given to each worker is transformed into credit for training hours. After two years, this credit can be used by the employee to attend training sessions.
And if the employee leaves the company, for whatever reason, he is entitled to receive compensation for the missing training hours! That is, the company that did not provide you with the training or time credit to which you are entitled MUST pay you for them when you leave the company, even if you quit. For example, for a person leaving the company after 2 years, it is on average 700 euros in compensation that it is possible to receive. For a 3-year contract it will be 1,050 euros.
The Portuguese Working Conditions Authority (Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho) is the body responsible for monitoring. If you believe the law is not being followed, you can impose fines ranging from $ 612 to $ 9,690. Once again, many companies “forget” to organize you or to pay their indemnities at the end of your contract.
If, at the end of your employment contract, the company has not provided you with the training or paid the compensation, all you need to do is remind them of the labor code and the fines it incurs. She will then apologize for "forgetting" and pay you what you owe. Lisbob, the # 1 assistant to expats.
