sponsored with funds of the European Union
Portugal (PT)
Employment
Agriculture and forestry employ 140,000 workers, thereof 35,000 full-time employees. Their fields of activity include traditional agriculture with plant and animal production, fruit and vegetable production, forestry, especially cork oak production, hunting, and horticulture. In the context of environmental protection there is growth in garden design and landscaping, and in the services area there are new employment opportunities, e. g. in wine management. More than 105,000 people are seasonal workers, but they pay hardly any contributions to the welfare insurance. Their exact number is unknown because many work informally, or their employment status is unclear (employed or self-employed). Workers come from Africa, but often they move out of agriculture again after a few days.
International Comparison of Employment
Wages and Labour Costs
There is a collective agreement for agriculture which is published by the Ministry in the Boletin do Trabalho e Emprego, so it can be called generally binding for the regions. A tractor driver earns, e. g. € 455.00 per month, which can increase in the first year by € 110.60 up to € 565.60 (€ 7.90 x 14 = € 110.60). That is equivalent to an hourly wage of € 2.59 or € 3.21, respectively. In the second year the wage can increase by another € 110.60 (2 x 7.90 x 14 = € 221.20). The minimum wage is € 390.00, i. e. € 2.22 per hour. If contributions to the welfare insurance are paid the worker pays 11.0 %, and the entrepreneur pays 23.0 % from the wage. The income tax level is about 7 %.
International Comparison of Wages and Labour Costs
Working Time
The 40-hour week has been agreed for a 5-day week. There is a large amount of overtime work. In spite of the 8-hour day people often work more than 10 hours. Under the collective agreements summer overtime can be compensated in winter following negotiations between the employer, employee and the trade union.
International Comparison of Working Time
Leave and Paid Holidays
The holiday duration is 22 working days. If the holiday is taken in winter the worker gets 2 extra days. There are 14 public holidays in the working week as well as Easter Sunday.
International Comparison of Leave and Paid Holidays
Social Insurance
Employees are covered by a statutory mandatory insurance. The system is independent, but under state supervision. It is financed by employee and employer contributions and by public money (tax). Work accident insurance is done by private insurance companies. The system is under state supervision. Entrepreneurs must insure their workers.
Occupational Health and Safety
The health and safety at work situation in the agricultural sector is improving, as the decreasing accident numbers show. The trade union is a participant in tri-partite activities.
International Comparison of Occupational Health and Safety
Trade Union Influence
The degree of unionisation is 10%. In total there are 10,000 farms with 75,000 employees. A good degree of unionisation is reached in the large companies in the South of Portugal. In that region there are 3,000 farms with 5,000 employees. All employees can be reached through the collective agreement.
International Comparison of Trade Union Influence
Minimum Standards
There is a statutory minimum wage (cf. Table).
International Comparison of Minimum Standards
Trade Union Participation
Specialists for health and safety at work exist only in companies with more than 50 employees, of which there are none in agriculture. In the labour and social courts there is no possibility of legal assistance for trade union members. In the field of education and training only projects were supported. In partnership activities under EU programmes the trade union has contacts through the trade union federation.
International Comparison of Trade Union Participation
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