Portugal
Portugal ratified the European Social Charter on 30/09/1991and the Revised European Social Charter on 30/05/2002, accepting all of its 98 paragraphs.
It accepted the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 20/03/1998, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints.
The Charter in domestic law
Under Article 8§2 of the Constitution: “Rules provided for in international conventions duly ratified or approved, following their official publication, apply in municipal law as long as they remain internationally binding with respect to the Portuguese State.”
Country factsheets
The country factsheets include detailed information on the findings of the European Committee of Social Rights when monitoring the application of the Charter at national level, as well as examples of progress in the implementation of the rights protected by the Charter.
Latest Ad hoc report by Portugal
See previous reports in respect of Portugal
Latest conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights (ECSR)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2022 concerning Portugal (Thematic group Labour rights)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2020 concerning Portugal (Thematic group Employment, training and equal opportunities)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2019 concerning Portugal (Thematic group Children, families and migrants)
- Conclusions of the European Committee of Social Rights 2017 concerning Portugal (Thematic group Health, social security and social protection)
See all conclusions in respect of Portugal (HUDOC)
Latest findings of the European Committee of Social Rights
Findings 2019 of the European Committee of Social Rights on the follow-up to decisions on the merits in collective complaints in respect of Portugal.
Table of accepted and non-accepted provisions by Portugal
Grey = Accepted provisions
| 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 3.1 |
| 3.2 | 3.3 | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 5 | 6.1 | 6.2 | 6.3 |
| 6.4 | 7.1 | 7.2 | 7.3 | 7.4 | 7.5 | 7.6 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 7.9 | 7.10 | 8.1 |
| 8.2 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 8.5 | 9 | 10.1 | 10.2 | 10.3 | 10.4 | 10.5 | 11.1 | 11.2 |
| 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 12.4 | 13.1 | 13.2 | 13.3 | 13.4 | 14.1 | 14.2 | 15.1 |
| 15.2 | 15.3 | 16 | 17.1 | 17.2 | 18.1 | 18.2 | 18.3 | 18.4 | 19.1 | 19.2 | 19.3 |
| 19.4 | 19.5 | 19.6 | 19.7 | 19.8 | 19.9 | 19.10 | 19.11 | 19.12 | 20 | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26.1 | 26.2 | 27.1 | 27.2 | 27.3 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31.1 |
| 31.2 | 31.3 | ||||||||||
Meetings and reports on non-accepted provisions
- Seminar on the European Social Charter organised by the Secretariat of the European Social Charter and the Ministry of Labour and Social Solidarity of Portugal. Lisbon, 8th January 2008
Collective complaints procedure
Portugal accepted the Additional Protocol providing for a system of collective complaints on 20/03/1998, but has not yet made a declaration enabling national NGOs to submit collective complaints
The complaint, lodged on 31 May 2006, relates to Article 17 (right of children and young persons to social, legal and economic protection of the Revised Social Charter. It is alleged that domestic law does not explicitly nor effectively prohibit all corporal punishment of children.
- Case Document no. 1, Complaint registered at the Secretariat on 31 May 2006
- Case Document no. 2, Observations of European Trade Union Confederation (Etuc) on the Merits
- Case Document no. 3, Observations du Gouvernement portuguais (French version only)
The European Committee of Social Rights declared the complaint admissible on 12 June 2006.
The European Committee of Social Rights concluded unanimously that there was violation of Article 17 and transmitted its report containing its decision on the merits of the complaint to the Parties and to the Committee of Ministers on 22 January 2007.
The Committee of Ministers adopted Resolution ResChS(2008)4 on 27 February 2008.
Decision on admissibility of the Complaint 34/2006
Decision on the merits of the Complaint 34/2006
Resolution ResChS(2008)4 of the Committee of Ministers on 27 February 2008
Previous national reports by Portugal
- 18th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2018-31/12/2021).
- 17th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2017-31/12/2020). Conclusions published in 2022
- 16th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2016-31/12/2019). Conclusions published in 2021
- 15th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2015-31/12/2018). Conclusions published in 2020
- 14th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2014-31/12/2017. Conclusions published in 2019
- 13th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2013-31/12/2016. Conclusions published in 2018
- 12th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2012 - 31/12/2015). Conclusions published in 2017
- 11th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2011 - 31/12/2014). Conclusions published in 2016
- 10th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2010 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2015
- 9th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2009 - 31/12/2013). Conclusions published in 2014
Comments from Conseil Européen des Syndicats de Police on the 9th report - 8th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2008 - 31/12/2012). Conclusions published in 2013
- 7th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2007 - 31/12/2010). Conclusions published in 2012
- 6th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2009). Conclusions published in 2011
- 5th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2008). Conclusions published in 2010
- 4th National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2007). Conclusions published in 2009
- 3rd National Report on the implementation of the European Social Charter submitted by the government of Portugal (en and fr) (Reference Period: 01/01/2005 - 31/12/2006 and 01/01/2003 - 31/12/2005). Conclusions published in 2008