Maximum working time in Portugal (2026)

Last reviewed: 30 October 2026

In short: Normal working time may not exceed 8 hours a day and 40 hours a week. The average weekly time including overtime may not exceed 48 hours, and workers are entitled to 11 hours of daily rest and at least one day of weekly rest.

RuleWhat applies
Maximum average weekly working timeEmployees (adults) in general employment48 hours [1]
Maximum daily working timeEmployees (adults) in general employmentNormal working time may not exceed 8 hours a day (article 203(1)); the daily normal period may be raised by up to 4 hours for work done only on days of rest, and collective agreements or the adaptability and time-bank regimes (articles 204 to 210) can change the distribution. [2]
Minimum daily restEmployees (adults) in general employment11 hours [3]
Minimum weekly restEmployees (adults) in general employmentAt least one day of rest per week. The compulsory weekly rest day can be a day other than Sunday in the cases listed (for example continuous-operation work, surveillance or cleaning, fairs). [4]
Normal full-time working weekEmployees (adults) in general employmentNormal working time may not exceed 40 hours a week (and 8 hours a day). Collective agreements may reduce these limits. [2]
Individual opt-out from the weekly maximumEmployees (adults) in general employment⚠ Not yet verified

Notes

  • The reference period is set by collective agreement (up to 12 months) or, failing that, 4 months (6 months in the cases of article 207(2)). It does not apply to workers in management positions exempt from fixed hours.
  • This is the limit on normal working time; overtime is governed separately and was not read.
  • Exceptions (article 214(2)) include workers in management positions exempt from fixed hours, force majeure overtime, split working days and continuous-service activities; a rest allowing recovery must then be observed.
  • No source read states whether an individual opt-out from the 48-hour average exists.

Sources

  1. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): Lei n.º 7/2009, de 12 de Fevereiro – Código do Trabalho (versão actualizada), artigo 211.º (Limite máximo da duração média do trabalho semanal) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  2. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): Lei n.º 7/2009, de 12 de Fevereiro – Código do Trabalho (versão actualizada), artigo 203.º (Limites máximos do período normal de trabalho) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  3. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): Lei n.º 7/2009, de 12 de Fevereiro – Código do Trabalho (versão actualizada), artigo 214.º (Descanso diário) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources
  4. Procuradoria-Geral Distrital de Lisboa (consolidated text of the law): Lei n.º 7/2009, de 12 de Fevereiro – Código do Trabalho (versão actualizada), artigo 232.º (Descanso semanal) (consulted 30 October 2026) · all sources

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General information, not legal advice. Rules change: check the official source before you fly or ride.