Portugal Makes It Illegal For Your Boss To Text You After Work

November 9, 2021

Portugal has banned companies from contacting their employees outside of working hours.

The new labor laws approved last week are a response to the rise of working remotely as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the modification of the Labor Code on the "right to disconnect" applies to all workers and not only to those who work remotely.

Under the new rules, employers will face penalties for contacting workers outside of office hours.

Companies will also have to help pay for expenses incurred by remote working, such as higher electricity and internet bills.

Employers are also forbidden from monitoring their employees while they work at home.

"Telework can be a 'game changer' if we profit from the advantages and reduce the disadvantages," said Ana Mendes Godinho, Portugal's Minister of Labour and Social Security.

"We consider Portugal one of the best places in the world for these digital nomads and remote workers to choose to live in, we want to attract them to Portugal."