Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Overview of measures by country
Eurofound has identified 134 measures in Portugal in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the digital transformation, the green transition, and companies undergoing restructuring. Most cases fall into the category Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery into a green future with 58 cases (43%). The data collection to date started in March 2020, and data are updated at regular intervals.
This overview was prepared by Heloísa Perista, Maria da Paz Campos Lima, Paula Carrilho, Ana Brázia (CESIS) and Eurofound.
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional regime suspending overtime limits
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
08 April 2020 |
Rotation of working teams rota in public passenger transportation companies
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
08 April 2020 |
Care for children or other dependants of workers of essential services
Mobilisation of a larger workforce |
09 April 2020 |
Temporary and exceptional support to the emergency reinforcement of public and solidary health and social care services
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
23 June 2022 |
Information and Management System of the Education and Training Offer
Smoothing frictions or reallocation of workers |
Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Norauto: Employees involvement against COVID-19 challenges and change work organisation
Change of work arrangements (working time, rota schemes) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
07 April 2020 |
Temporary exemption of payment of social security contributions due by employers - Exceptional and temporary measure to protect jobs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
08 November 2023 |
Support for farmers affected by fires
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
08 November 2023 |
Support for tourism businesses affected by forest fires
Access to finance |
08 November 2023 |
Support for territories affected by fires
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
09 February 2023 |
Extraordinary support to renting
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
18 January 2023 Updated |
Tax incentives for salary increase
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
11 July 2022 |
Special Revitalisation Process
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
01 June 2022 Updated |
Production Support Line: Credit for enterprises affected by inflation
Access to finance |
20 October 2021 Updated |
Subsidies for companies in the Adapt Tourism Program
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
19 October 2021 |
Companies Capitalisation Fund
Access to finance |
19 January 2021 Updated |
Financial support line for micro and small tourist companies
Access to finance |
18 January 2021 Updated |
New measures addressed to businesses and employment
Access to finance |
17 January 2021 |
Extraordinary process of businesses bailout
Rescue procedures in case of insolvency or adaptation of insolvency regulation |
17 January 2021 |
Measures to support businesses cash-flow
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
15 October 2020 Updated |
Exemption and partial remission of social security contributions for companies with temporary reduction of the normal period of working time
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Fiscal support measures to micro, small and medium businesses
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
09 April 2020 |
Credit Line Capitalizar 2018 – COVID-19
Access to finance |
09 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional and temporary regime for compliance with fiscal obligations and social contributions
Deferral of payments or liabilities |
09 November 2023 |
Aid to companies affected by extreme weather events in disadvantaged regions
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
05 February 2024 |
Financial support for drought
Direct subsidies (full or partial) or damage compensation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional and temporary measure on layoffs to protect jobs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
14 October 2020 Updated |
Support to temporary reduction of the normal period of working time
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Partial unemployment benefit
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Flexible working time
Working time flexibility |
23 June 2022 |
Wage Guarantee Fund
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Work Compensation Fund and Guarantee Fund for Work Compensation
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
23 June 2022 |
Partial benefit for termination of activity
Income support for people in employment (e.g., short-time work) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
20 February 2023 |
Phasing out of harmful exemptions on oil and energy products
Change of production/Innovation |
Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
CEiiA - change of business activity to face COVID-19 pandemic
Change of production/Innovation |
01 December 2020 |
Solution Ozone: Change of core business
Change of production/Innovation |
01 December 2020 |
Destilaria Levira: Change in production processes
Change of production/Innovation |
01 December 2020 |
Host: Digital service as response to COVID-19 restrictions
Creation of platforms for businesses aimed at customer |
Other initiatives or policies |
13 April 2020 |
Ten companies, mainly from moulds and plastics, from Marinha Grande and Leiria, produce goggles for free distribution
Change of production/Innovation |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 April 2020 Updated |
Telework - exceptional and temporary measure in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
10 July 2020 Updated |
Telework - Increasing the number of Public Administration workers in teleworking
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
12 October 2020 Updated |
Staggered working times - exceptional and transitory regime
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
12 April 2021 Updated |
Exceptional suspension of deadlines associated with survival and expiry of collective agreements
Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
01 June 2023 |
Parents' right to telework and covered expenses for telework
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Company practices |
01 December 2020 |
Go4All - collaborative platform for remote working
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety promotion - Health professionals
Occupational health and safety |
Other initiatives or policies |
13 April 2020 |
Occupational health and safety in the public transportation service
Occupational health and safety |
13 April 2020 |
Psychological counselling line - SNS 24
Well-being of workers |
01 September 2020 |
COVID-19: 40 urgent measures for construction workers
Occupational health and safety |
02 October 2020 Updated |
Telework and workers with disability or impairment - exceptional and temporary measure
Teleworking arrangements, remote working |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
08 April 2020 Updated |
Extraordinary extension of unemployment benefit and social benefit
Income support for unemployed |
09 April 2020 Updated |
Extraordinary support for the reduction of self-employed economic activity
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 April 2020 |
Exceptional and temporary recognition of the right to sick pay
Paid sick leave |
02 June 2020 Updated |
Exceptional support to workers' families
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
09 July 2020 Updated |
Protection of self-employed and informal workers
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
10 July 2020 |
Social support for artists, authors, technicians and other arts professionals
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
18 July 2021 Updated |
Extraordinary support to workers income
Extensions of income support to workers not covered by any kind of protection scheme |
13 September 2022 |
Family allowance for children and young people extended to non-nationals
Support for parents and carers (financial or in kind) |
Legislations or other statutory regulations |
|
---|---|
06 April 2020 Updated |
Reinforcement of resources and powers of the authority for working conditions (ACT)
Flexibilisation and security |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Freeze on the update of the carbon emissions tax addition
Support for fuel expenses |
14 September 2022 Updated |
Adjustment of the Tax on Petroleum and Energy Products for citizens
Support for fuel expenses |
15 September 2022 |
Support to road transport of passengers and goods
Support for fuel expenses |
16 September 2022 |
Reduction of Single Tax on Circulation (IUC) for freight transport
Support for fuel expenses |
02 November 2022 |
Industry Decarbonisation
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
04 November 2022 |
Enterprises 4.0
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
07 January 2023 |
Support to vulnerable families to face extraordinary price increase
Increasing income in general |
07 February 2023 |
Limitation of the increase of the rents for 2023
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
14 February 2023 Updated |
Reduction of VAT on electricity supply
Support for energy bills |
14 February 2023 |
Freezing of public transport prices
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
14 February 2023 |
Adherence to the regulated tariff for the sale of natural gas
Support for energy bills |
15 February 2023 Updated |
Strengthening the programme 'Support for gas-intensive industries'
Support for energy bills |
15 February 2023 |
New credit line for companies
Support for energy bills |
15 February 2023 |
Support to the social sector
Support for energy bills |
16 February 2023 |
Support for electricity and gas costs borne by companies
Support for energy bills |
16 February 2023 |
Extraordinary support scheme for costs incurred in agricultural production
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
20 February 2023 |
Green Skills & Jobs
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
01 June 2023 |
Mid-term wage increase in public administration by 1%
Increasing income in general |
05 June 2023 |
Subsidy for food support
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
05 June 2023 |
Financial support for vulnerable families
Increasing income in general |
05 June 2023 Updated |
0% VAT on food
Support for other basic items (e.g., food, housing, public transport, medicines) |
28 June 2023 |
Ensuring coverage of outsourced workers by collective agreements
Flexibilisation and security |
31 October 2023 |
Incentivising zero-emission vehicles
Sustainable mobility |
13 September 2022 |
Extraordinary support to children and large families
Increasing income in general |
13 September 2022 Updated |
Extraordinary financial support for citizens with low and medium income
Increasing income in general |
14 September 2022 |
Exceptional supplement for pensioners
Increasing income in general |
23 June 2022 Updated |
Temporary reduction of working hours/suspension of employment contracts
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
06 April 2020 Updated |
Exceptional suspension of termination of employment contracts in NationalExceptional suspension of termination of employment in Health Servic
Flexibilisation and security |
07 April 2020 |
Extraordinary training plan - Exceptional and temporary measure to protect jobs in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
09 April 2020 Updated |
Extraordinary financial incentive to support the normalisation of business activity
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
10 July 2020 |
Support to companies for hiring on the basis of teleworking contracts in interior regions
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
02 October 2020 |
Internship ATIVAR.PT - Internships for unemployed persons with disability or impairment
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
02 October 2020 |
Incentive ATIVAR.PT - Incentive for employers to hire unemployed persons with disability or impairment
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
06 October 2020 |
Financial support for the hiring of young unemployed - Incentive ATIVAR.PT
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
National Strategy for Environmental Education
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
15 October 2020 Updated |
Training plan for companies with temporary reduction of the normal period of working time
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
18 January 2021 |
ADAPTAR Programme - Adaptation of business activity in the context of COVID-19
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
19 April 2021 |
Support measures within the scope of the COVID-19 pandemic
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
07 October 2020 |
Supporting the labour market integration of young people - internships ATIVAR.PT
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
21 July 2021 |
Plan to reactivate tourism and build the future
Support for spending, stimulus packages |
01 June 2022 |
Autovoucher subsidy for fuel consumption
Support for fuel expenses |
01 June 2022 |
Monthly subsidy for families to counter inflation
Increasing income in general |
01 June 2022 Updated |
Extraordinary and exceptional support to domestic consumers Beneficiaries of the Electricity Social Tariff in the Acquisition of Bottled Liquefied Petroleum Gas
Support for energy bills |
23 June 2022 |
National Catalogue for Qualifications
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Bipartite collective agreements |
16 January 2023 Updated |
Pluriannual agreement for the valorization of Public Administration Workers
Increasing income in general |
11 September 2020 |
Collective agreements published in the second quarter 2020
Other |
19 July 2021 |
Annual report on the evolution of collective bargaining 2020
Other |
Tripartite agreements |
18 January 2023 |
Medium-Term Agreement for Improving Income, Wages and Competitiveness
Strategic plans and programmes |
13 August 2020 |
Tripartite Declaration of Commitment to jointly promote the economic and social recovery
Other |
06 November 2023 |
Strengthening the agreement to improve income and competitiveness
Measures to support a gradual relaunch of work |
Non-binding recommendations or other texts |
19 July 2021 |
CNCP_Employer Confederations unite in defense of companies and the national economy
Other |
Other initiatives or policies |
02 November 2023 |
Support programme for more sustainable buildings
Retrofitting buildings |
02 November 2023 |
Energy Efficiency Voucher programme for vulnerable groups
Retrofitting buildings |
07 September 2020 |
Incentive ATIVAR.PT - Financial incentives to hire registered unemployed
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
08 September 2020 Updated |
ATIVAR.PT Labour market integration internships
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
23 June 2022 |
SME Academy
Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
31 January 2024 |
Programme to Support Residential Condominiums
Retrofitting buildings |
30 January 2023
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ArticleDisclaimer: This information has not been subject to the full Eurofound evaluation, editorial and publication process.