Portugal’s parliament recently introduced new labor law that penalizes companies for contacting employees outside office hours. The new labor law provides additional protection for employees who work away from company premises.
The new rules are a response to a trend of more employees working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, Portugal’s socialist government said, according to AP news agency. It said it sees benefits in working from home but wants to adapt the labor law to it.
The rules bring new penalties for companies that breach the privacy of employees or their families, and oblige employers to compensate employees for expenses related to work at home.
The new rules state that except in exceptional circumstances, companies should avoid contacting employees outside office hours.
Employees should meet their superiors at least every two months so that workers are not isolated.
Also, companies must pay employees for additional personal expenses incurred at home, such as electricity or Internet bills.
Lawmakers rejected a measure that would have given workers the right to turn off professional communication systems when work is stopped.
Companies that do not comply with the rules will be fined.
The approval of the rules was one of the last measures taken by parliament before it was dissolved ahead of a midterm election in January, when workers’ rights are likely to be one of the key issues.
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