Employer Obligations in Portugal: What the ACT Labour Inspectorate Checks

Last updated: 28 September 2026 · By Haider Shah, accounting technician in Portugal

The ACT (Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho) is Portugal’s labour inspectorate. Inspectors can visit any workplace without warning, especially restaurants, mini-markets, construction sites, agriculture and cleaning, where undeclared work is common.

What inspectors check

1. Is every worker declared?

The first thing they check is whether each person working is registered with Social Security. A worker who is “just trying out” or “just helping today” without registration is the most common fine, and it can be serious.

2. Contracts

Fixed-term contracts and contracts with foreign workers must be in writing. Inspectors also check that you verified foreign workers’ visa or residence documents.

3. Working time

• The work schedule map (mapa de horário) must be posted at the workplace
• A record of hours worked, including start and end times and breaks, must be kept for every worker
• Maximum normal time: 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week, with overtime paid at higher rates
• Rest periods: a break of at least one hour (the maximum is two) after at most 5 consecutive hours, a daily rest of 11 hours, and a weekly rest day

4. Salaries

At least the minimum wage (€920 in 2026) for full time, payslips, holiday and Christmas allowances, and payment on time.

5. Insurance and health and safety

Work accident insurance for everyone, an organised occupational health and safety service, workers’ medical exams, and the risk assessment.

6. Holidays

22 working days a year, and a holiday map (mapa de férias) drawn up by 15 April and posted until 31 October.

7. Annual report

Employers submit the Relatório Único once a year with information about their staff, training and working conditions.

What happens after an inspection

For minor issues, inspectors may give you a deadline to fix things. For more serious ones, such as undeclared work, they start a fine procedure (contraordenação). Fines depend on how serious the breach is and on your company’s turnover.

How to protect your business

1. Never let anyone start work before they are registered with Social Security.
2. Keep one folder at the workplace with contracts, the schedule map, the time records, insurance and SST.
3. Update the schedule map whenever hours change.
4. Use a payroll service that follows the monthly obligations for you.

Official sources

• ACT – Autoridade para as Condições do Trabalho
• ACT – Código do Trabalho (consolidated)
• DGERT – Minimum wage 2026

This guide is general information, checked against official sources on 28 September 2026. Rules and portals in Portugal change often, so confirm the current rules with the official source before you act. It is not legal advice.