Portugal: new lockdown decreed and remote work imposed

Following a meeting of Portugal’s Council of Ministers on 13 January, a new lockdown came into force on 15 January. The measure is to remain in place for a period of one month, but the duration may be revised at the halfway point. Authorities in the country have opted to impose remote working and to govern this with stricter controls. The new lockdown aims to slow down the spread of the second wave of Covid-19, which has taken an alarming new turn (10,000 new cases per day).
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Remote work. Under Article 5 of Decree n.º 3-A/2021, it is compulsory to work remotely whenever possible and compatible, regardless of the legal structure of the company. The decision exempts parties from any prior agreement. Paragraph 2 of Article 5 specifies that an employee who works remotely retains the same rights as an individual working on site. Social security cover, income and meal allowance are also maintained.

Provision of means to do one’s job. The company must provide the...

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