Employment in Portugal

Useful Information

◊ Self Employment in Portugal

◊ Income Tax in Portugal

◊ Social Security Benefits in Portugal

◊ Qualification Recognition in Portugal

If you are considering moving to Portugal and intend to find work. Before you make the move, take into consideration salaries are significantly lower than those in the United Kingdom.

Like the United Kingdom there is a minimum wage, however even after an increase in January 2008, this equates to 426€ per month. This rate applies to those aged over 20. Younger workers receive a fixed percentage of the minimum rate.

The minimum wage in Portugal, although considerably lower than that in the United Kingdom, is proportionate to the cost of living.

Business working hours do differ from the United Kingdom, in that typical working hours in Portugal run from 9am until 1pm with a two hour break for lunch, resuming at 3pm through until 7pm. The maximum legal working week in Portugal is 40 hours. Annual leave entitlement is 22 working days. There are also an obligatory 12 public holidays and two optional ones.

Working in Portugal

One major consideration to think about if you do want to work in Portugal is, away from the larger tourist areas having a working knowledge of Portuguese will be essential. Anyone from an EU country who becomes a resident in Portugal and has obtained a Tax and Social Security number has the right to work in Portugal without a permit, providing they have a valid passport. You will have the same rights as a Portuguese person with regards to pay, working conditions and access to housing, vocational training, social security.

As an EU national you will have free access to the services of the Portuguese employment service Centro de Emprego. These government offices are administered by the Ministerio de Emprego e Seguranca Social.

The Centros de Emprego can offer information about vacancies, training opportunities in the area and give advice on job hunting. The weekly newspaper Expresso is published on Saturdays and is the main source of specialist and management vacancies.