Quick wear professions are those that, due to their specific characteristics, expose workers to a level of stress, so high physical or emotional effort that accumulated tiredness is felt earlier than in other professional areas. Portuguese legislation recognizes some of these professions in Article 27 of Decree-Law 82-E/2014, in the Singular Persons Income Tax Code (CIRS), guaranteeing them special rights, such as the possibility of access to early reform without penalties.
More traditional examples
Pilots and air traffic controllers are two classic examples of quick wear professions. These professionals face a high degree of responsibility and need to maintain extreme concentration levels. Continuous pressure and precision requirement make this activity particularly demanding over time.
Miners
Miners live especially harsh labor realities. They face underground conditions, reduced lighting, adverse temperatures and permanent accident risks. Physical and emotional wear is high, justifying the need for an early exit for the reform.
Fishermen
Fishermen also integrate this group. Its craft implies long journeys at sea, often under difficult weather conditions and constant risk of incidents. Instability in income and difficulty in reconciling family life with professional activity contributes to progressive wear over the years.
Call Center workers
Call Center professionals face a different type of pressure. Direct and continuous contact with the public, often in conflict contexts, combined with strict goals and highly controlled environments, gives rise to considerable psychological and emotional tiredness.
Police
Authority agents deal daily with risky situations, emergencies and intense psychological pressure. Night shifts, frequent exposure to dangerous scenarios and the need for constant surveillance make this profession highly demanding at physical and mental level.
Professional Sportsmen
Professional athletes follow an intensive training routine, often from an early age, under constant pressure to improve performance and achieve results. Physical and psychological wear caused by this continuous requirement leads many to end their career early.
Madeira
Madeira embroiders constitute another example of a profession that requires special attention. Long hours dedicated to thorough work causes eye fatigue, muscle pain and other health problems, resulting in progressive wear over time.
Uranium works
In the case of workers of the National Uranium Company (ENU), the contact with radioactive materials and the work conditions justify their inclusion in the list of quick wear professions. The consequences for health are serious, requiring access to an early reform regime.
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Mines
Workers inside the mines, ore laundry and professionals linked to the extraction or primary transformation of the stone face hostile environments that require high physical and psychological resistance. Exposure to harmful substances increases the risk of occupational diseases.
Maritime workers
Maritime workers also benefit from a special reform regime due to the demanding labor conditions at sea. Long seasons away from home, maritime instability and absence of comfort make this activity extremely demanding.
Special Rights to Reform
Those who exercise these professions have specific rights with regard to reform, as the ekonomist refers. For example, air traffic controllers can retire from 58 years, while miners can slaughter one year for every two of service and may be renovated at 50 in certain circumstances.
Since January 1, 2021, these professionals have failed to suffer the 15.2% cut in the pension calculation due to the sustainability factor. In addition, requests for renovation are automatically reviewed by the National Pensions Center, ensuring fairer access to the pension.
POSSIBILITY OF EARLY REFORM
Even those who do not fit the professions provided for in the legislation can resort to early reform, although subject to financial penalties, says. Regardless of the activity performed, recognizing accumulated wear is essential for the valorization of each worker and for the creation of fairer working conditions. Thus, knowing the rights and guarantees associated with quick wear professions is critical for each professional to prepare their future with greater safety and dignity.
Does the list need to be updated?
In recent years, there has been a growing debate about the need to update and widen the official list of quick wear professions. With the evolution of the labor market and the emergence of new labor requirements, many occupations that were not previously contemplated are now beginning to reveal clear signs of accumulated wear.
Professions linked to the health sector, such as nurses and medical action assistants, have been referred to as candidates for inclusion in this list, especially after the pandemic, which brutally exposed the physical and emotional burden that these professionals face daily.
In addition, occupational health experts and union representatives warn of the importance of considering the impact of mental health as a fundamental criterion on the evaluation of professional wear. Prolonged exposure to stress, pressure for results and labor insecurity can be as harmful as intense physical effort.
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