What to Include in a Housekeeper Employment Contract in Portugal
A guide to what to include in a housekeeper employment contract in Portugal, from hours to holidays, subsidies and Social Security.
Quick answer: A written contract is not always mandatory for domestic work (but a fixed-term contract must be written) and is always recommended. It should set out the parties, duties, hours, pay, holidays, subsidies and the trial period.
Is a written contract required?
Under Portugal's domestic-service rules (Decreto-Lei 235/92, as amended), an open-ended contract can be verbal, but a fixed-term contract must be in writing. Putting everything in writing protects both sides and prevents disputes.
What the contract should include
- Employer and housekeeper details
- Place of work and duties (cleaning, ironing, cooking, childcare/elderly care)
- Working time (max 40 hours/week) and weekly rest
- Agreed pay (never below the minimum wage) and pay frequency
- Holidays (22 working days), holiday subsidy and Christmas subsidy
- Trial period and termination rules
Associated obligations
Declare the hire to Social Security before the start date and take out work-accident insurance. If board and lodging are provided, state their value in the contract.
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Conclusion
A clear contract — duties, hours, pay, holidays and subsidies — gives both sides legal certainty, even where the written form is not compulsory.
Official sources
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FAQ
Must the contract be written?
Not always: an open-ended contract can be verbal, but a fixed-term contract must be written. Either way, the written form is strongly recommended.
What hours can I set?
The maximum is 40 hours per week, with a weekly rest day. Set the hours and days in the contract.
Do I have to pay subsidies?
Yes. A housekeeper on a contract is entitled to 22 working days of holiday, a holiday subsidy and a Christmas subsidy.
What about board and lodging?
They can count as remuneration in kind, but total pay must be expressed in money and valued by reference to the minimum wage.