Parliament approved a number of changes to the Labor Code that redefine Portugal’s teleworking legal framework, in particular employers’ requirements and responsibilities under work-from-home arrangements. The amendments are aimed at protecting and extending remote workers’ rights and supporting work/life balance in light of the post pandemic employment dynamics. The legislation (Law N° 83/2021) was published in the Official Gazette (Diário da República) on December 6, 2021, and takes effect on January 1, 2022.
Notable changes and new rules on teleworking include:
Employers are encouraged to review their work-from-home policies and arrangements with their employees in order to remain compliant with the new rules. Although these measures come as a result of the current employment trends (accelerated by the pandemic), the new teleworking regime may affect employers’ organization of work in a variety of ways.