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Factsheet for measure PT-2013-4/2661 – measures in Portugal

Partial benefit for termination of activity

Subsídio parcial por cessação de atividade

Country Portugal , applies nationwide
Time period Open ended, started on 25 January 2013
Context Restructuring Support Instruments
Type Legislations or other statutory regulations
Category Employment protection and retention
– Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work)
Author Paula Carrilho (CESIS)
Measure added 23 June 2022 (updated 04 November 2022)

Background information

Decree Law 12/2013 of 25 January defines the legal framework on unemployment protection applicable to self-employed professionals with an entrepreneurial activity and to members of corporate bodies.

This regulation creates the partial unemployment benefit for termination of activity. It is a benefit in cash attributed to economically dependent self-employed.

Content of measure

The partial unemployment benefit for termination of activity is a benefit in cash attributed to the self-employed in situations where the worker, after involuntary termination of the contract of service with the contracting entity, retains a professional activity whose monthly income is less than the amount of the benefit for termination of activity (maximum of 2.5 times the Social Support Index, which is €443,20 in 2022 – 2.5 x €443.20 = €1,108).

The entitlement period depends on the age of the beneficiary and the number of months with registered earnings for social security purposes (at least 24 months are required); more specifically, entitlement ranges from 330 days for beneficiaries aged under 30 years, to 540 days for beneficiaries aged 50 years or older.

The partial benefit for termination of activity corresponds to the difference between the unemployment benefit the worker is entitled plus 35%, and the pay for the new part-time job.

The benefit for termination of activity will be determined in line with the following cumulative rules:

  • Involuntary termination of the service contract with the contracting entity.
  • 360 days of activity as a self-employed worker with registered payslips for a period of 24 months immediately prior to the date of termination of activity.
  • The self-employed worker has been considered economically dependent of contracting entities for the civil year immediately prior to the date of termination of activity.
  • The self-employed worker has been considered economically dependent at the moment of termination of activity.
  • Registration in the Employment Centre of the beneficiary’s area of residence.

Use of measure

In 2019, 30 self-employed people benefited of this measure, representing an increase of 30% compared to 2018 and of 76.5% to 2015.

Target groups

Workers Businesses Citizens
Self-employed
Does not apply to businesses Does not apply to citizens

Actors and funding

Actors Funding
National government
Public employment service
National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

Trade unions Employers' organisations
Role Consulted Consulted
Form Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies Consultation through tripartite or bipartite social dialogue bodies

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

  • Social partners jointly
  • Main level of involvement: Peak or cross-sectoral level

Involvement

The trade union confederations - General Confederation of Portuguese Workers - National Trades Union (Confederação Geral dos Trabalhadores Portugueses - Intersindical Nacional – CGTP-IN) and General Workers’ Union (União Geral de Trabalhadores - UGT) and the four employer confederations Confederation of Portuguese Industry (Confederação Empresarial de Portugal - CIP), Portuguese Confederation of Farmers (Confederação dos Agricultores de Portugal - CAP), Portuguese Trade and Services Confederation (Confederação do Comércio e Serviços de Portugal - CCP) and Portuguese Confederation of Tourism (Confederação do Turismo Português - CTP) represented at the tripartite Standing Committee for Social Concertation have been consulted.

Views and reactions

Unknown

Sources

  • 25 January 2013: Decree Law 12/2013 of 25 January (dre.pt)
  • 02 July 2018: Decree Law 53_2018 of 2 July (dre.pt)
  • 03 January 2022: Practical Guide - Partial benefit for termination of activity (www.seg-social.pt)

Citation

Eurofound (2022), Partial benefit for termination of activity, measure PT-2013-4/2661 (measures in Portugal), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/PT-2013-4_2661.html

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