Living

1
Living Working in Portugal
2
Living Working in Portugal

• Recognition Diplomas and Qualifications
• Language
• Accommodation
• Healthcare
• Education
• Cost of Living
• Looking for a Job

• The Country
• The Public Employment Service
• The Labour Market
• Working Conditions
• Social Security
• Taxation

3

Portugal
The Country
4
The Country

• Area 92,412 km2
• Territorial organisation 18 districts in the
  Mainland, 2 Autonomous regions (Azores and
  Madeira archipelagos)
• Capital Lisboa (Lisbon)
• Population 10,563 millions (2005)
• Active Population 5,544 millions (2005)
• Currency Euro
• GDP 135.035 million Eur (2004)
• Per capita GDP 72,4 EU25 avg (2004)
• Minimum Wage 385,90 Eur/month (2006)
• Inflation Rate 2.1 (2005)

5
The Country
Political System

• Republic ruled by a Constitution
• Parliamentary Democracy
• Organs with supreme authority the President of
  the Republic, the Assembly of the Republic, the
  Government and the Law Courts
• President of the Republic Mr. Cavaco Silva
  (elected for a 5 year term)
• Prime-Minister Mr. José Sócrates (Socialist
  Party)
• Portuguese Parliament (Assembly of the
  Republic)
• 230 deputies, elected for a 4 year term
• 6 political parties represented

6
EURES Advisers in Portugal
2 in national Technical Coordination 5 in IEFP
Regional Offices 2 in Autonomous Regions (Azores
and Madeira) 5 in Local Units (in Job Centres) 1
allocated to EURES-C (in ACISAT) 15 EURES
Advisers (2nd semester 2006)
7

Portugal
The Labour Market
8
The Labour Market
Participation and employment rates ()
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey, 2004
15-64 years
Total employment increased 5,3 since 1998
(source INE)
9
The Labour Market
Employment structure ()
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey 2005
10
SOURCE MTSS/ DEEP
The Labour Market
Business structure ()

• Number of companies 288.678 (in 2002)

less 10 workers
83,5
10 - 49 workers
14,2
50 - 249 workers
2
250 and more workers
0,3
11
The Labour Market
276,5 thousands in 2005
Foreign Citizens by nationality
12
The Labour Market
Unemployment rate
15-74 years
Source EUROSTAT, Euro-Indicators December 2005
13
The Labour Market
Registered unemployment in IEFP
- 5,1 compared to July 2005 - 1,3 compared to
June 2006
436 901 registered unemployed
57,9 are women
12,5 less than 25 years old
19,7 with 55 and more years old
July 2006
6,8 are looking for 1st job
43,1 Long Term Unemployed
14
The Labour Market
July 2006
Registered unemployment by education level
5,7
with no education level
with lower secondary (9th grade) or less
68,5
with upper secondary
15,5
graduates
10,2
15
The Labour Market
Foreign citizens registered as unemployed
Source IEFP, July 2006
16
The Labour Market
Population with upper secondary or higher
education
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey, 2004
17
The Labour Market
Participation rate in education or training
People who received education or training in
the 4 weeks previous to the Survey
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey, 2004
18
The Labour Market
Young school leavers
Young people 18-24 years old who left school
before completing the upper secondary level
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey, 2004
19
The Labour Market
Meeting of the Lisbon Strategy Goals
Source EUROSTAT, Labour Force Survey 2005
2004 data
20
The Labour Market
Labour Market Shortages

• Health Sector (mostly medical doctors in some
  expert specialties)
• Hotels and Restaurants (seasonal needs)
• Wholesale and Retail Trade (hypermarkets and
  shopping malls)
• Information and Communication Technologies
• Construction (qualified professionals)
• Family and Community Services (child and elderly
  care)
• Basic Industries (in some regions)

21
The Labour Market
Labour Market Surpluses

• Teachers
• Clerks
• Sales and Services Elementary Occupations
• Non-Qualified Workers in Mining, Construction,
  Manufacturing and Transports
• Personal and Protective Services Workers

22
The Labour Market
Average Monthly Earnings (April 2005)

• Activity Areas
• Manufacturing 831,73
• Construction 792,14
• Sales Repair Services 897,42
• Hotels Restaurants 628,61
• Transpts Communications 1.450,43
• Financial Activities 1.902,11
• Health Care Social Work 777,49
• Community Family Services 1.126,55
• Education 1.062,66

• Eur 945,39
• Professional Level
• Managers/Directors 2.847,67
• Employees 985,63
• Labourers 709,33
• Apprentices 511,58
• Gender
• Male 1.051,78
• Female 791,81

Source DGEEP
23

Portugal
The Working Conditions
24
Working Conditions
Relevant Info

• Holiday and Christmas subsidies total 14 earning
  months per year
• Lisbon has the highest wage level in Portugal,
  due to concentration of higher paying activities
• Normal working period cannot exceed 40 hours
  weekly (avg. is 39 hours, 5 working days)
• Holiday duration in general, 22 useful days (or
  2 days per complete month of work in short-term
  contracts)
• Fixed term contract maximum duration 2 years (2
  renewals max. makes a total of 6 years)
  mandatory to be in writing
• Day limit for supplementary work 2 hours
• More labour legislation info in www.igt.gov.pt

25
Working Conditions
Temporary Work

• Significantly increasing in Portugal (more than
  250 TWAs)
• Only TWAs licensed by the Public Employment
  Service (IEFP) are authorised to exercise the
  activity
• For information on licensed TWAs, please visit
• www.iefp.pt
• gt Soluções para Entidades gt Empresas Trabalho
  Temporário regulamentadas

26

Portugal
The Social Security
27
Social Security
Deductions

• Social Security contributions of 11 deducted
  from gross monthly earnings
• Employers contribute a further 23,75
• The employer is responsible for making the
  contribution for each worker, corresponding to
  the overall rate of 34,75 of his/her gross
  monthly earnings, at the District Social Security
  Centre
• For self-employed, contribution rate is
  calculated on the basis of declared wage
• 25,4 (compulsory protection scheme)
• 32 (wider protection scheme)
• Further info in www.seg-social.pt

28
Social Security
Unemployment Benefits

• Unemployment benefit (UB)
• due to workers with min. 540 days worked and a
  record of contributions in the 24 months
  preceding the date of unemployment
• duration depends on the benefit recipients age,
  min. 12 months (aged 30) and max. 30 months (for
  workers aged 45 or over)
• 65 of the reference wage (max. limit 3 x Minimum
  Wage)
• Social unemployment benefit (SUB)
• paid to workers with min. 180 days worked and a
  record of contributions in the 12 months
  preceding the date of unemployment, and whose
  family income p.c. is lower than 80 Minimum Wage
  
• duration identical to UB
• Minimum Wage for benefit recipients with a
  family 80 of the Minimum Wage for isolated
  benefit recipients

29
Social Security
Unemployment Benefits

• Partial unemployment benefit (PUB)
• paid when workers receiving an unemployment
  benefit sign a part-time work contract, with a
  wage lower than the amount of the UB
• differential between the wage and the UB due to
  the worker

30
Social Security
Unemployment Benefits

• Rules for unemployment benefit export
• If receiving an UB in your country and wanting to
  look for a job in Portugal, you may request that
  it is exported to Portugal for up until 3 months,
  since you comply to the following rules
• to remain available for employment for a
  minimum period of 4 weeks in your
• countrys PES
• to inform the Social Security in your country
  of your intention to look for a job
• in Portugal
• to bring the E303 form obtained from the Social
  Security in your country
• to register as a jobseeker in the PES in
  Portugal (IEFP Job Centres) at max.
• 7 days after departure from your country

31

Portugal
The Tax System
32
Taxes
Personal Income Tax (IRS) Rates ()
33
Taxes
Principles (to avoid double taxation)

• IRS is paid on the annual amount of income
  received by people residing in the Portuguese
  territory
• In case of non-residents, it is paid exclusively
  on income received in Portugal
• Employers will retain 25 of the income due to
  non-resident employees
• To avoid double taxation, Portugal has tax
  agreements with the other EEA member states (and
  Switzerland)
• For further info, please contact the tax services
  in your country or visit www.dgci.min-financas.pt/
  dgciappl/informacaodgci.nsf/taxsystem?openview

34

Portugal
The Language
35
Language

• Although many Portuguese people communicate in
  English, French or Spanish, most employers will
  require at least a basic knowledge of the
  Portuguese language
• Portuguese e-learning tools
• Camões Virtual Centre www.instituto-camoes.pt/c
  vc/aprender.html
• Easy Portuguese www.easyportuguese.com
• Portuguese language Teaching in Lithuania
• Camões Institute is negotiating a lectorate
  position with Vilnius University
• Language Schools in Portugal
• Search by Português para Estrangeiros in
  Yellow Pages (www.pai.pt)

36

Portugal
The Recognition of Diplomas and Qualifications
37
Recognition of Diplomas and Qualifications

• In Portugal, access to certain occupational
  activities is conditioned by the ownership of
  diplomas, certificates or other degrees. The
  recognition system is not, in most occupational
  activities, automatic.
• Requests for recognition should be directed at
  the competent authority in Portugal. For further
  info, please visit
• NARIC - National Academic Recognition
  Information Centres
• www.naricportugal.pt
• PNRQ - National Reference Point for Vocational
  Qualifications
• http//portal.iefp.pt/pnrq/index.html

38

Portugal
The Accommodation
39
Accommodation
Looking for a place to stay

• Housing in the largest cities (Lisboa, Porto) and
  in touristic areas (Algarve) may be difficult to
  find and very expensive
• The renting price for houses and flats does not
  include water supply, electricity, telephone and
  gas expenses usually it does not include
  furniture also
• Still rare to find houses with central heating or
  air conditioning
• Leasing contracts normally last for a minimum 6
  months
• It is common to be asked for a 1 to 2 months rent
  payment in advance
• In the largest cities, there are also people who
  rent rooms to students (already furnished)

40
Accommodation
Looking for a place to stay

• Accommodation offered with a job is rare in
  Portugal
• Average rental of a 1 bedroom appt. Eur 450, 2
  bedroom appt. Eur 600 (more expensive in Lisboa)
• Arrange for temporary accommodation before you
  leave
• Portugal Official Tourism website
• www.visitportugal.com gt Where to stay
• Portuguese Youth Hostels network
• www.juventude.gov.pt/Portal/Lazer/PousadasJuventud
  e/Foreigners/
• Most newspapers (Classificados sections) and
  real estate agencies are already in the Internet

41
Accommodation
Looking for a place to stay most useful websites

• ERA Portugal www.era.pt
• REMAX Portugal www.remax.pt
• Astrolábio Sociedade de Mediação Mobiliária,
  Lda. www.astrolabio.pt
• Lardocelar Imobiliários e Serviços
  www.lardocelar.com
• Imoproposta www.imoproposta.pt
• Predidomus Sociedade de Mediação Imobiliária
  www.predidomus.pt
• Imokapa www.imokapa.com
• ComprarCasa (APEMI Associates Portal)
  www.comprarcasa.pt

42
Accommodation
Looking for a place to stay most useful websites

• INH Housing National Institute www.inh.pt
• BPI Imobiliário www.bpiimobiliario.pt
• REILAR - Sociedade de Mediação Imobiliária, Lda.
  www.reilar.pt
• Expresso Imobiliário www.expressoimobiliario.clix
  .pt
• Casa Sapo Portal Nacional de Imobiliário
  www.casa.sapo.pt
• ImOcasião www.imocasiao.pt
• Diário de Notícias and Jornal de Notícias
  Classificados http//classificados.com.pt

43

Portugal
The Health Care System
44
Health Care

• National Emergency Services 112
• Medical services from the NHS (National Health
  System) are free to EEA citizens working or
  looking for work in Portugal
• When travelling to Portugal, dont forget your
  European Health Insurance Card
• Once you start working, and after being
  registered in Portuguese Social Security,
  register with the nearest Health Centre
• Health Centres general practice/family medicine,
  public health care, nursing, vaccination and some
  diagnostic exams
• Public Hospitals external specialist
  consultations, hospitalization and emergency
  services
• For further info www.portaldasaude.pt or
  www.dgs.pt

45

Portugal
The Educational System
46
Education
Educational System

• No school may refuse to enrol a child,
  independently of his or her nationality, provided
  it is located in the area in which his or her
  parents reside and places are still available
• Pupils from kindergarten to the 9th grade
  registered in the public education system whose
  mother tongue is not Portuguese may benefit from
  support measures they will attend Portuguese
  lessons along with others but may receive extra
  tuition in the language if necessary
• There are also some International Schools in
  Greater Lisbon as well as in the Algarve
• For further info on the education and training
  systems
• http//portal.iefp.pt/pnrq/index.html

47

Portugal
The Cost of Living
48
Cost of Living
Food and Beveradges

• Milk (1 lt) 0,59 0,79
• Bread (1 kg) 1,5
• Pork Meat (1 kg) 4,47
• Codfish (1 kg) 9,97 12,97
• Oranges (1 kg) 1,15 1,19
• Bottle of wine (0,75 lt) 1,00 -
• Beer (0,5 lt) 0,59 - 0,74
• Coke (0,5 lt) 0,74 0,79

49
Cost of Living
Accommodation (apt. Rents, )
50
Cost of Living
Transports

• 1 single bus ticket (Lisbon) 0,75
  (previously bought)
• 1,20 (bought on board)
• 1 single underground ticket (Lisbon) 0,70
• Monthly Travel Card (Lisbon, Zones 12) 29,10
• Gas 95 octanes (1 lt) 1,278 - 1,293
• Train 2nd class from Lisboa to Porto 17,50
  27,50
• Coach from Lisboa to Porto 15,50

51
Cost of Living
Leisure

• 1 cup of coffee (bica) 0,50 - 0,60
• 1 cinema ticket 5,00
• 1 theatre ticket 10,00 18,50
• 1 Mc Menu (Mc Donalds) 4,10
• 1 DVD 19,00 25,00
• 1 meal in a café / snack bar 5,00 10,00
• Packet of 20 cigarettes 2,40

52

Portugal
Looking for a Job
53
Looking for a Job
Job Search Strategies

• Invest in the Portuguese language learning
• Contact the EURES Advisers network in your
  country
• Visit www.eures.europa.eu for info on job
  vacancies and living and working conditions in
  Portugal
• Place your CV on the EURES portal or, if you
  have enough knowledge of Portuguese, on
  www.netemprego.gov.pt
• Search for job opportunities in several on-line
  job banks (see Useful Websites page)

54
Looking for a Job
Applying for a Job

• Portuguese Resumé, preferably in Europass CV
  model
• Always take previous employers references with
  you

55
Looking for a Job
When in Portugal

• Register yourself
• in a Job Centre
• on www.netemprego.gov.pt
• (free phone contact in Portugal 800 200 670)
• You can also
• check for ads in newspapers
• apply for a job at TWAs, if youre willing to
  accept a temporary job (just make sure it is
  authorised to exercise the activity)

56
Living Working in Portugal