Hire employees in 180+ countries

Hire international contractor

Find the best candidates for your team

Retain talents with the best benefits

Work visa & permit services

Explore all our add-ons

Our borderless team and our mission

How we accelerate global hiring

Discover our partner benefits

Platform news and annoucements

Our offices around the world

How we keep your data secure

How to hire remote teams

Shape your global hiring strategy

Global hiring cost insights

Calculate employment cost

Working hours & days
in Portugal.

SALARY PAYMENT IN Euro (EUR, €)

CONTRACT LANGUAGES Portuguese / English

PAYROLL TAX 26.50%

PAYROLL CYCLE Monthly

TIME TO HIRE 12 hours

Hire and pay talents
with Horizons in
180+ countries

What are the standard working hours in Portugal?

Standard working hours for full-time employees in Portugal are 40 hours per week, with eight hours per day.

What are the standard working days in Portugal?

Most employees in Portugal work Monday-Friday.

How many hours can you work per week in Portugal?

The maximum number of working hours per week is 40. Beyond this, employees must generally be paid overtime rates.

How many hours is part-time work in Portugal?

Employees in Portugal working less than 75% of full-time hours are classed as part-time. This equates to 30 hours per week.

How many hours is overtime in Portugal?

Any hours worked beyond eight hours per day or 40 hours per week are classed as overtime and must be paid at overtime rates.

The first hour of overtime is paid at 125% of normal salary. Following hours are paid at 137.5% (or as paid time off in lieu within three working days). Overtime during days off must be compensated at 150% of normal salary (or as paid time off in lieu within three working days).

Is it illegal to work on the weekend in Portugal?

No, but if the weekend is not part of normal working hours then overtime rates must be paid (150% of normal salary or paid time off in lieu within three working days).

Does Portugal have a four-day work?

No, Portugal does not have a four-day work week as standard. However, some employers do choose to offer this as a perk.

Hiring in Portugal, Made Easy

Your business can easily hire employees in Portugal without opening a local entity. We handle local employment law, complex tax regulations, and international payroll in 180+ countries worldwide. All you need to do is focus on your business.

FAQs

Employees can work a maximum of 2 hours of overtime per day, for a total of 48 hours per week. The annual maximum overtime that employees in Portugal can work depends on the size of the company:

  • For companies in Portugal with more than 50 employees, the maximum annual overtime amount permitted is 150 hours of overtime per year.
  • For companies in Portugal with less than 50 employees, the maximum annual overtime amount permitted is 175 hours of overtime per year.
  • In a force majeure situation, or if provided by collective agreement, the maximum annual overtime amount permitted is 200 hours per year.

The pay rate for overtime in Portugal depends on the number of hours worked and the type of working day. Normally, overtime can be paid out in salary or in additional time off:

  • The first hour of overtime earns 125% pay.
  • The hours following the first hour earn:
    • 137.5% pay OR
    • Paid time off in lieu within the next 3 working days
  • Overtime pay during days off (including rest days or holidays) earn:
    • 150% of salary OR
    • 1 paid day off in lieu within the next 3 working days
Success stories from businesses we’ve helped enter and grow in new markets.

Client Testimonials

What to expect when you connect with Horizons

Recruit, hire and pay remote
teams without a local entity

We respect your data, and process it according to our Privacy Policy