🇵🇹 Portugal · Employment & Labor
Hiring rules, employment contracts, payroll, social insurance, and EOR options.
Quick answer
Portuguese employment under the Labour Code is protective: a national minimum wage (RMMG), 22 working days' paid holiday, and 13th- and 14th-month payments. Dismissal generally needs just cause and follows a set procedure; social security is compulsory and disputes go to the labour court (tribunal do trabalho).
Employment in Portugal follows the Labour Code; the public employment institute (IEFP) supports job-seekers with registration and training.
- The Labour Code sets contracts, working time, holidays and dismissal rules.
- IEFP offers job-matching, training and support.
- Employees are covered by social security funded through contributions.
Step-by-step
- 1
Check your contract type
Confirm whether your contract is permanent (sem termo) or fixed-term (a termo, for defined reasons).
- 2
Know your pay and hours rights
You must receive at least the national minimum wage (RMMG); the normal limit is 8 hours a day / 40 a week, plus the 13th- and 14th-month payments.
- 3
Understand leave entitlements
You are entitled to 22 working days' paid holiday a year, public holidays and family-related leaves.
- 4
Register with Social Security
You are enrolled in Segurança Social, with contributions deducted from pay.
- 5
Know the dismissal rules
Dismissal generally requires just cause (disciplinary or objective) and a proper procedure; unfair dismissal can lead to reinstatement or compensation.
- 6
Resolve disputes at the labour court
Bring employment claims to the labour court (tribunal do trabalho).
Checklist
- Contract type (sem termo / a termo)
- National minimum wage (RMMG)
- 8h/day, 40h/week + 13th/14th month pay
- 22 working days' holiday + family leaves
- Segurança Social enrolment
- Just-cause dismissal + procedure
- Anti-discrimination protections
- Dispute route (tribunal do trabalho)
Official authorities
- IEFP
Institute for Employment and Vocational Training.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 13th and 14th month payments?
A Christmas bonus (13th) and a holiday bonus (14th), each roughly a month's pay, in addition to your salary.
How much holiday am I entitled to?
22 working days of paid annual leave per year.
Can I be dismissed without cause?
No — dismissal generally requires just cause and a set procedure; otherwise it can be ruled unfair.
Official-information aggregation, not legal advice. Always verify on the authority's own site.
Government portals
- ePortugal — Citizen and business services incl. residence and foreign-resident matters
- Tax Portal (Portal das Finanças) — Portuguese income tax (IRS), VAT (IVA), and tax number (NIF)
- AICEP Portugal Global — Foreign investment and trade promotion