A recent report by the Commission for Equality in Labour and Employment (CITE) reveals that the latest figures are the second highest in five years, only surpassed in 2020.
In terms of dismissals, 2024 was the worst year, according to the latest report on gender equality in work, employment, and vocational training.
The Labour Code requires companies to inform CITE of their intention to terminate employment with pregnant, postpartum, or breastfeeding workers, as well as employees on parental leave or those who are caregivers.
This communication allows CITE to assess the validity of the reasons for ending the employment relationship.
In 2024, CITE received 1,894 notifications regarding non-renewal of fixed-term contracts, 138 relating to terminations during the probation period, and another 138 concerning dismissals.
Overall, there were 2,170 communications, a figure “only surpassed in 2020, when the total reached 2,299, primarily due to a higher number of fixed-term contract non-renewals (2,107), while dismissals were lower at 130.”
Since the peak in 2020, the number of notifications has risen steadily—1,366 in 2021, 1,625 in 2022, and 1,917 in 2023—according to CITE’s president, Carla Tavares, it’s unclear whether this indicates more cases or better compliance by companies.
“We can’t draw that boundary, and probably, we will never know,” said Carla Tavares, who added: “I have proposed establishing a data link to check if those on maternity leave continue contributing, which would help identify unreported cases. But it has not been done.”
Regardless, the numbers “are always high” and have increasingly involved women with foreign names.
“It might not mean anything, but we’ve noticed many foreign names. It doesn’t mean they’re not Portuguese, but there’s this coincidence,” she observed.
From 2020 to 2024, the total communications of non-renewal of fixed-term contracts involving pregnant women or the other mentioned situations reached 8,299. Dismissals accounted for 534, and contract terminations during probation affected 544 people.
In total, “at least 9,377 people were affected,” while CITE’s interventions “reversed some of these situations,” but the numbers remain modest.
Last year, 15 notified cases of non-renewed contracts saw employers retract their decisions.
