What are the employee Training Entitlements in Portugal?

In Portugal, employees are entitled to continuous professional development. Under the current labor regulations, all employees have the right to 40 hours of professional training per year, regardless of the length of their employment within a calendar year. 


Key Points to Know:

  1. 40 Hours of Annual Training:

    • Every employee is entitled to 40 hours of professional training each year, irrespective of how long they have worked during that year.
    • This means that even if an employee works for only a few months within the year, they are still entitled to the full 40 hours of training for that year.

  2. Compensation if Training Is Not Provided:

    • If the required training is not provided, the employee must be compensated for the full 40 hours.
    • At the end of the employment contract, the employer is legally required to pay the employee for any training that has not been completed. This applies even if the employee has only worked for part of the year. The compensation will be based on the employee's regular hourly wage for 40 hours.

  3. Certified Training Providers:

    • The training must be carried out by accredited entities certified by the Direção-Geral do Emprego e das Relações de Trabalho (DGERT). This guarantees that the training complies with national standards and benefits the employee's professional development.
    • Employers are responsible for selecting training providers that are DGERT-certified.

  4. Finding DGERT-Certified Training Providers:

    • Both employers and employees can search for accredited training providers using the Pesquisa de Entidades Formadoras Certificadas DGERT tool. This platform provides a list of all DGERT-certified training entities, ensuring the training is of high quality and legally recognized.
    • To search for DGERT-certified training providers, visit: DGERT Accredited Training Search



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