In Portugal, there is no need to wait until you are of legal age to start working. The Labor Code defines that the minimum age to carry out a professional activity is 16 years old. However, there are conditions that need to be met before a young person can enter the job market.
According to Ekonomista, a website specializing in economics and legislation, minors under 18 can only work if they have completed compulsory education or are enrolled and attending secondary school. Furthermore, the law requires that young people have physical and psychological fitness appropriate to the role they will perform.
Light work and legal limits
Portuguese legislation protects working minors, imposing clear restrictions on the type of activities they can perform. Only tasks considered light and simple, which do not jeopardize the health, safety or development of the young person, are permitted. The functions cannot interfere with school attendance or academic achievement, nor harm their physical, moral, intellectual or cultural growth.
When work is provided in the context of a family business, there must be permanent monitoring by an adult in the household. Whenever a minor is hired, the employer has eight days to communicate the admission to the General Labor Inspectorate. Failure to comply with these obligations may be considered a serious or minor offense, depending on the situation.
And who hasn’t finished compulsory education yet?
Article 69 of the Labor Code defines the conditions for the admission of minors who have not yet completed compulsory education. In these cases, the young person can only be hired if they attend an educational establishment, an apprenticeship program or professional training that guarantees educational equivalence.
Companies that intend to hire minors between the ages of 16 and 18 must communicate this intention to the competent authorities within eight days of hiring. It is mandatory to previously assess professional risks and inform the worker and their legal representatives of the prevention measures adopted. The law also requires annual medical examinations.
Student worker status and work on vacation
Minors who combine employment with studies benefit from student worker status, which guarantees greater flexibility and specific rights, such as time off to attend classes.
In the case of young people who work only during school holidays, the regime is different. Working hours must be compatible with educational activities and cannot affect school attendance.
Schedules, restrictions and role of parents
The working hours of a minor between 16 and 18 years of age cannot exceed eight hours a day or 40 hours a week. The law also prohibits carrying out any activity between 10pm and 7am the following day.
Parents or legal representatives always have the final say. If they do not authorize the minor to work, all they have to do is not sign the necessary authorization, which makes the contract unfeasible.
According to , violating the rules on minimum age or compulsory education may result in sanctions for the employer, including the suspension of public subsidies for a period of up to two years. Therefore, knowing the rules is essential before any young person begins their first professional experience.
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