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Parental leave extension and continuous workday unanimously approved

Parliament has approved parental leave extension to 100% and a continuous workday for private sector workers with children up to 12 years old.

16 October 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Parental leave extension and continuous workday unanimously approved — Archive photoPhoto: Joep Zander · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

The Assembly of the Republic of Portugal unanimously approved the extension of paid parental leave to 100%. The new legislation stipulates that the leave can be extended up to six months if there is sharing between parents.

In addition to parental leave, the proposal also includes the introduction of a continuous workday in the private sector for workers with children up to 12 years old. This measure will be subject to the employer's approval.

The extension of parental leave and the continuous workday were a collaboration between the PSD and PS parties, which jointly presented the project. The new regulations are set to take effect in January 2027.

Despite the unanimous approval, the proposal has been described by some as a 'bittersweet victory,' as the parental leave extension falls short of the six months requested by many citizens.

Furthermore, the new regulations will not apply to those who are already on parental leave as of January 1.

Various sources confirmed that the measure is a response to the need for better reconciliation between work and family life for workers, especially in a context where support for parents is crucial.

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