Portugal COVID lockdown: Government says companies should pay working from home expenses

These expenses can cover internet and phone costs, but exclude other household expenses such as electricty, as and water for those who are working from home in Portugal.

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Editorial Team

24 February 2021, 12:43

Portugal is experiencing its strictest coronavirus lockdown to date, and the latest COVID restrictions in Portugal state that working from home is mandatory and that there will be very serious fines for those who breach the teleworking rules. Now, due to this forced rise in teleworking in Portugal, the Government argues that companies should have to pay "expenses related to telephone and internet" to employees who are working from home. Other household utility bills related to electricity, water and gas are not covered, according to the Executive's interpretation of the law.

In a statement made to Portugal's Jornal de Negócios newspaper, an official source from the Ministry of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security in Portugal (MTSSS) refers to article 168 of the Labour Code which states that the employer must "ensure the respective installation and maintenance and the payment of the inherent expenses", except if an individual agreement or collective convention stipulates otherwise.

"The inherent expenses mentioned in the last part of paragraph 1 of Article 168 of the Labour Code refer to the expenses of installation and maintenance of work instruments regarding information and communication technology. The payment of water, electricity and gas expenses is not covered in that precept, contrary to the payment of expenses related to internet and telephone", concludes an official source of the MTSSS, cited by the same publication, without detailing how these costs are calculated.

Many companies in Portugal are already paying expenses

After research carried out by Jornal de Negócios, it is clear that many companies in Portugal are already giving their employees a helping hand when it comes to household expenses. The most common initiative is the offer of data and mobile phones, and in some cases, internet access hotspots were also guaranteed, as well as internet SIM cards and laptops to ensure that all employees work at home as efficiently as possible.