Employment
The 2012 Labour Code and a tripartite minimum wage
Labour Code Law No. 4/2012 sets out contracts, working time, dismissal and collective rights for the private sector. A national minimum wage is set by tripartite decision, and the Labour Relations Board handles collective disputes.
Key rules
- Jurisdiction — Private sector nationally. Public servants are governed by the separate civil service statute.
- Deadline — Claims arising from termination are generally brought within 30 days of dismissal
Governing law
- Labour Code (Law No. 4/2012) — private sector employment relationships
- Decree-Law on the Labour Inspectorate — enforcement of working conditions
In practice
The Labour Code caps normal working hours at 44 per week and requires written contracts for fixed-term work. Dismissal requires just cause with a defined procedure, and unjustified dismissal attracts compensation calculated by reference to length of service. Trade union rights are constitutionally protected and the right to strike is recognised, subject to notice. Enforcement capacity is limited: the labour inspectorate is small relative to the informal economy, which accounts for the majority of employment.