A proposal by the government led by Luís Montenegro may soon allow workers to purchase additional vacation days under new labor law amendments. The specifics of this measure are yet to be disclosed, prompting the question: what is the current value of a vacation day?
“Under the current legislation, the pay for vacation days equals what the employee would receive if effectively working,” explained lawyer Dantas Rodrigues, noting, “a vacation day is valued the same as a normal working day.”
Rodrigues clarifies that the government’s program does not specify how the purchasing of vacation days will be implemented, whether it involves a pay reduction or perhaps the granting of unpaid leave.
“In the future, it will be essential to understand the limits placed on purchasing vacation days to avoid constraints in human resources management and organizational work planning by the employer,” he emphasized.
Rodrigues reminds that workers are entitled to 22 working days of vacation each civil year.
The government seeks to increase flexibility in taking vacation days at the employee’s initiative, proposing that workers may purchase additional days. This measure is part of the Government Program submitted to the Assembly of the Republic on Saturday.
The document suggests “greater flexibility in taking vacation days at the employee’s initiative, with the possibility of acquiring additional days, subject to a contractually defined limit.”
“The option for workers to purchase vacation days beyond the existing 22 working days is included in the government’s program as a proposed amendment to labor legislation. Currently, this option is unregulated, though some companies practice it, resulting in a loss of remuneration,” noted the lawyer.
For reference, the Government Program was approved this Wednesday in the Assembly of the Republic.
