European Restructuring Monitor (ERM)
Eurofound's ERM database on restructuring-related legal regulations provides information on regulations in the Member States of the European Union and Norway which are explicitly or implicitly linked to anticipating and managing change.
114 (1, 2 and 3); 163 (1); 357 (5); 363 1(a), (b), (c), (d) and 2; 371 (1,3); 378 (2)
The employer must observe the following minimum notice periods which vary in accordance with each employee’s seniority:
If the dismissal affects both spouses (or unmarried partners), the notice period to be considered shall be the level immediately above the one that would apply if the dismissal would affect only one of the members of the couple. There is no difference in the notice period between collective and individual dismissals.
The dismissed employee shall be notified in writing.
The notice period in case of probationary periods and service commission agreements is also specified in the Labour Code. During a probationary period, either the employer or the employee can terminate the contract without providing notice. However, if the probationary period has lasted longer than 60 days, the employer shall abide by a seven day notice period, and if the probationary period has lasted longer than 120 days, the employer shall abide by a 15-day notice period. Service commission agreements can be terminated without cause for certain types of employees, namely managerial staff, as long the employer abides by the already mentioned minimum notice period thresholds.
Individual employees are not entitled to pay in lieu of notice according to the Labour Code. However, in case of a collective dismissal*, should the employer fail to comply with the required notice period, the employment contract will not end until the statutory notice period has expired and the employer is then required to pay the employee a sum equal to the salary equivalent to the missing period of notice.
*Collective dismissal occurs as a result of termination of the employment contract by the employer operated simultaneously or successively within a three-month period of either:
No information available.
Eurofound (2015), Portugal: Notice period to employees, Restructuring legislation database, Dublin, https://apps.eurofound.europa.eu/legislationdb/notice-period-to-employees/portugal
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