Continuous journey comes to the private: Here's what you can ask the boss

O Parliament approved a proposal from the PS and the PSD which extends the continuous journey to the private sector for workers with children up to 12 years old, who will allow them to leave early. 

What can you ask the employer when the measure comes into force?

The joint proposal of the PSD and PS states that the continuous journey corresponds to the uninterrupted provision of work, with a rest period of up to 30 minutes and should “predominantly occupy one of the periods of the day”, resulting in the reduction of normal working time by up to one hour.

However, you should know that this measure is only possible with the agreement of the employer or if it is provided in collective employment agreement.

It should be noted that the continuous day already existed in the public sector, but it was not yet foreseen in the law governing labor relations in the private sector.

What's planned?

In a shared publication on social networks, the Government – which had already welcomed the adoption of the measure – explains which changes: 

• 30-minute meal break;
• Reduction of daily working time up to one hour;
• Possibility of use by any parent;
• It also applies to workers with children with disabilities, chronic or cancer disease, regardless of age, under the conditions laid down in the law;
• It extends to grandparents who replace their parents and live with their grandchildren. 

AR unanimously approves extension of parental leave and continuous working in private

Parliament approved, in a final overall vote, the extension of parental leave paid to 100% up to six months and the continuous work for private sector workers with children up to 12 years old.

The final text, which was the result of a joint proposal from the PSD and the PS, was adopted unanimously, ending a legislative process which began in 2023 with a citizens' legislative initiative.

Therefore, parental leave starting from 1 January 2027 will be paid 100% during the first 150 days (five months) without sharing or during the first 180 days (six months) if shared between the two parents.

In order to benefit from enlargement up to 180 days, each parent must have a period of at least 30 consecutive days, or two periods of 15 consecutive days after the mandatory period of the mother, which corresponds to the first 42 days after delivery.

Although they agreed that the approved amendments represent an improvement in relation to the legislation currently in force – which limits the license paid to 100% to the first 120 days without sharing or 150 days if the father enjoys 30 exclusive days – some benches considered that the text defrauds the expectations of petitioners.

The citizens' legislative initiative called for the licence to be paid 100% for the first 180 days (six months) or up to 210 to 240 days by sharing.

The new rules still ensure the payment of 83% of the reference remuneration for an additional period of 30 days without adequate sharing, totaling 180 days of leave, 86% up to 210 days with a 30-day share and 90% if the father enjoys exclusively at least 60 days in a total of 210 days.

To the ride of the initiative of citizens, PSD and PS took advantage to include in the text an amendment to the Labour Code that extends to the private sector the possibility of workers with children up to 12 years of age benefiting from the continuous working regime, but with the agreement of the employer or if it is foreseen in collective work agreement.