The government granted point tolerance on Carnival Tuesday to public sector workers through an order from the Prime Minister published in Diário da República. The measure was announced by the Minister of Presidency, António Leitão Amaro, during the press conference that followed the meeting of the Council of Ministers.
“It is a measure that is justified by the practice and habit established,” explained the ruler, stressing that Carnival Tuesday is not an official holiday in Portugal.
What happens in the private sector?
Unlike the public sector, in which point tolerance is granted by government order, in the private sector it is up to each company to decide whether to grant this day off to its workers.
A, a company specializing in management solutions, clarifies some issues about the difference between the public and private sector:
Who decrees point tolerance?
In the public sector, it is attributed by order of the Prime Minister, officially published. In the private sector, the decision is up to companies managers, and this absence may imply the loss of worker’s remuneration.
Who can benefit?
Point tolerance in the public sector applies to all workers covered by the government order. In the private sector, companies are free to decide whether they grant their employees rest day.
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Is there loss of remuneration?
In the public sector, point tolerance does not affect workers’ rights. In the private sector, however, if the company decides to grant its workers clearance, it can be considered an authorized absence under article 255 of the Labor Code (Law No. 7/2009).
This means that, although justified, the lack may imply the loss of retribution and food subsidy.
Point tolerance is not a holiday
It is important to remember that Carnival Tuesday is not on the official list of national holidays. Thus, while in the public sector the decision is centralized and applied evenly, in the private sector the point tolerance depends on individual or collective agreements within companies.
Many employers give time off as a benefit to their employees, while others require the day to be compensated or discounted on vacation.
For those who work in the private sector, the best option is to confirm with the employer if Carnival day will be granted as a point tolerance or if it will be considered a normal working day.
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