[Portugal] Minimum wage rise compliance exceptions

The start of 2025 saw a rise in Portugal’s minimum wage with the national rate increasing by €50 to €870 across the country and €915 in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, The Portugal News reports.

However, there are circumstances in which it is permissible to pay a figure below these amounts.

A new guide from DECOPROteste clarifies that "it is permitted to pay less than the minimum wage in specific situations provided for in the labour law." 

There are reportedly three cases in which a worker can receive less.

First, according to DECOPROteste, "anyone who does not work full time (for example, a part-time worker) does not necessarily receive the minimum wage".

It is also permissible to pay a lower wage to those doing an "internship, apprentices or graduates in a certified training situation". In these cases, "the minimum wage can be reduced by 20% for a maximum of one year."

DECO PROteste reportedly states that "if the worker is qualified with a technical-professional course or a course obtained in the qualifying professional training system for the respective profession, the maximum period is six months".

Lastly, in the case of "workers with reduced capacity or disability, the minimum remuneration may be reduced".

"This corresponds to the difference between full work capacity and the effective capacity coefficient for the contracted activity, if the difference is greater than 10%, even with the limit of 50%. The certification of the coefficient of effective capacity is made at the request of the worker," the guide said.

Source: The Portugal News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)

The start of 2025 saw a rise in Portugal’s minimum wage with the national rate increasing by €50 to €870 across the country and €915 in the Autonomous Region of Madeira, The Portugal News reports.

However, there are circumstances in which it is permissible to pay a figure below these amounts.

A new guide from DECOPROteste clarifies that "it is permitted to pay less than the minimum wage in specific situations provided for in the labour law." 

There are reportedly three cases in which a worker can receive less.

First, according to DECOPROteste, "anyone who does not work full time (for example, a part-time worker) does not necessarily receive the minimum wage".

It is also permissible to pay a lower wage to those doing an "internship, apprentices or graduates in a certified training situation". In these cases, "the minimum wage can be reduced by 20% for a maximum of one year."

DECO PROteste reportedly states that "if the worker is qualified with a technical-professional course or a course obtained in the qualifying professional training system for the respective profession, the maximum period is six months".

Lastly, in the case of "workers with reduced capacity or disability, the minimum remuneration may be reduced".

"This corresponds to the difference between full work capacity and the effective capacity coefficient for the contracted activity, if the difference is greater than 10%, even with the limit of 50%. The certification of the coefficient of effective capacity is made at the request of the worker," the guide said.

Source: The Portugal News

(Link and quotes via original reporting)