One of the objectives of this measure, which is available to any worker over the age of 16, is to facilitate conditions for employers and reduce the work of family physicians in public health centers, who are the only ones authorized to issue sick leave.
From Monday, Portuguese people can get sick leave, which allows them to take up to three days off work by simply submitting a “self-declaration” of illness via the Internet or phone, which should help relieve pressure on the NHS, according to a government statement.
This measure will not incur any cost to the state or employers, as the maximum period of work stoppage corresponds to the waiting period, during which no benefits are paid to employees by the Social Security, according to the Ministry of Health.
The measure is part of a package of “decent work” measures adopted by Parliament in February to improve the working conditions of employees. The labor law reform provides for dozens of other measures, including expanding the cases in which remote work is permitted, or increasing end-of-service compensation.
To get one of these short-term sick leaves, which are limited to two a year, employees with health problems can justify their absence to their employer, relying solely on a sworn statement on the NHS website.
One of the objectives of this measure, which is available to any worker over the age of 16, is to facilitate conditions for employers and reduce the work of family physicians in public health centers, who are the only ones authorized to issue sick leave. Estimates issued by the Ministry of Health indicate that there are about 600,000 medical consultations that take place every year, to justify absences from work for a period of up to three days.
