Decree-Law No. 25-A/2021, March, 30th extends the exceptional and transitional regime of work reorganisation and minimisation of risks of transmission of COVID-19 infection in workplaces.
Given the current evolution of the pandemic situation, at a time when a gradual and phased recovery of economic activity is projected, it was decided the extension and maintenance of specific measures applicable to companies that have workplaces with 50 or more workers, located in territorial areas where the epidemiological situation justifies those measures.
The Portuguese government considers necessary to extend the rules for reorganisation and minimisation of risks within the workplaces to prevent the transmission of infection by SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 disease, namely those provided by Decree-Law no. 79-A/2020, of 1 October, in its current wording, until December 31st, 2021, through the implementation of different work schedules, particularly when entering and exiting, workplaces with 50 or more workers, to avoid the gathering of people during face-to-face work, and to dilute agglomerations or gathering of people during peak hours.
It is also stipulated that the notification for the presentation of a plan for the evaluation of remuneration differences, is made by the labour inspection, until July 31st, 2021.
In addition, the adoption of telework is mandatory, regardless of the nature of the employment relationship, whenever the functions allow it and the employee has the conditions to perform the job. To operate the telework there is not a need for a written agreement between employer and employee. This applies to companies with establishments in the territorial areas where the epidemiological situation justifies it, as defined by the Government through a resolution of the Council of Ministers, as well as in the municipalities considered by the Health Authorities (DGS) to be of high, very high and extreme risk, as declared by the Government through a decree regulating the declaration of the state of emergency, regardless of the number of workers, and to workers living or working there.
Decree-Law No. 25-A/2021 takes effect on March, 31st, 2021.
