The Ultimate Guide to Hiring Employees in Portugal

Employees in Portugal are entitled to a minimum of 22 paid vacation days per year. During their first year at the company, employees receive two days of leave for each month worked. However, this accrual is capped at 20 days within the initial year, and it begins after completing six months of service.

Expectant mothers in Portugal who meet eligibility criteria are entitled to 100% of their regular salary, covered by Social Security, for a period of 120 days. To be eligible, an employee must have been employed for a minimum of 80 days within the preceding 12 months before the expected due date. Included in the above, the mother is granted a maximum of 30 voluntary days prior to the birth and 42 days compulsory leave after the birth.

Fathers are entitled a paternity leave lasting 28 days within the 42 days following the birth of their child. Seven of these days must be taken consecutively immediately after the birth. After completing the initial leave, fathers are still entitled to an additional seven days of leave. These seven days can be taken concurrently with the mother's initial parental leave.

In Portugal, the first three days of sickness are unpaid. After that, if the illness lasts:

• Up to 30 days: 55% of the salary is paid.
• Between 31 and 90 days: 60% of the salary is paid.
• Between 91 and 365 days: 70% of the salary is paid.
• More than 365 days: 75% of the salary is paid.
• To qualify for these payments, the employee needs a doctor's certification and at least six months of employment. The first three days are self-declared to the employer, and from the fourth day onwards, Social Security covers the payments.

In the case of an employee getting married, they are entitled to 15 consecutive days of paid leave.

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Employees have the right to 30 days of paid leave per year for providing urgent and essential care for a family member under the age of 12. They are also entitled to 15 days of paid leave for providing care to an older family member.

Employees are entitled to 20 days' bereavement leave in the case of the death of a spouse, and 5 days' bereavement leave in the case of the death of a parent.

In Portugal, after the initial six weeks of maternity leave and 28 days of paternity leave, the couple can decide how to use the next 78 or 108 days. If they take a total of 150 days, they receive 80.00% of their usual pay, and for 120 days, they get 100.00% of their regular salary.