POBNEWS24, Dhaka, Nov 10, 2021: The Portuguese government has taken a big legal step in favor of the workers. The government has passed a law declaring the company or boss’s work-related communication with employees outside of working hours illegal, according to a report in The Independent Online in the United Kingdom.
Portugal’s ruling Socialist Party says its parliament approved the new labor law last Friday. The new law stipulates that if the company or boss communicates with the employee before the start of the working hours and after the end of the working hours, he may face heavy fines. This communication may include calling, e-mailing, or texting an employee.
That is, under Portugal’s new labor law, any employment-related contact with an employee outside of working hours is prohibited. Anyone violating this prohibition will be considered a punishable offense.
According to media reports, various companies and their executives put pressure on their employees. They still call or message employees about work-related issues after work hours. They give employees work outside of working hours, which puts pressure on employees. The issue also affects the physical and mental condition of the employees. The new law is expected to improve the mental health of workers as well as their personal lives.
Regarding the law, Portugal’s Minister of Labor and Social Security Anna Mendes Godinho said that working from home has now become a new reality due to the Corona epidemic. In this situation, remote work needs to be made as easy as possible. In this case, the new law could be a ‘game changer’.
The law will apply to companies with more than 10 employees.
The law also stipulates that if an employee works from home and has to pay a lot of electricity and internet bills, the company will have to bear the cost. Employers will not be able to monitor employees while working from home.
Under the new law, an employee can claim the right to work from home until he or she reaches the age of eight. And the authorities have to accept this demand compulsorily. If the demand is not met, the company will have to pay a fine.
