Organization for Youth Education & Development (OYED)
Laws Concerning Youth in Portugal
Laws Concerning Youth in Portugal
Portugal has recently developed a clear cut strategy aimed at the empowerment of youth. In this framework the country has established and improved youth laws as well as legislation specifically aimed at youth issues and addressing the needs and the rights of Portuguese youth.
The most recent developments on national youth law occurred in 2011, when new laws were published to set up a revised frame of IPDJ (Portugese Institute of Sport and Youth), along with the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Youth Policies.
The Portuguese Ministry effectively cooperates with youth research communities in the country. This is the case of the Permanent Observatory of Youth, a research program based at the University of Lisbon.
Additionally, the Portugese Government supports “The Young People’s Parliament”. This is an institutional initiative of the Assembly of the Republic that is carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education (via the respective Regional Education Directories). The program runs throughout the academic year and it encompasses many schools around the country.
The last few years, along with the economic recessions and austerity measures, have brought about new challenges faced by the young people of Portugal. Young people have become the most affected by the negative effects of labor market flexibility manifested in rising unemployment, precarious integration in the labor market and difficulty in achieving a stable job. This situation has been deteriorating in recent years due to the impact of the crisis. The regulations on the use of fixed-term contracts are changing and making their use more flexible. Incentives exist to encourage employers to conclude permanent contracts with the unemployed or to take on young people who have completed an internship on permanent contracts, but the share of young temporary employees has been constant and fast increasing.
Below is a list of legislation related to youth in Portugal.
The most recent developments on national youth law occurred in 2011, when new laws were published to set up a revised frame of IPDJ (Portugese Institute of Sport and Youth), along with the establishment of the Inter-Ministerial Commission for Youth Policies.
The Portuguese Ministry effectively cooperates with youth research communities in the country. This is the case of the Permanent Observatory of Youth, a research program based at the University of Lisbon.
Additionally, the Portugese Government supports “The Young People’s Parliament”. This is an institutional initiative of the Assembly of the Republic that is carried out in cooperation with the Ministry of Education (via the respective Regional Education Directories). The program runs throughout the academic year and it encompasses many schools around the country.
The last few years, along with the economic recessions and austerity measures, have brought about new challenges faced by the young people of Portugal. Young people have become the most affected by the negative effects of labor market flexibility manifested in rising unemployment, precarious integration in the labor market and difficulty in achieving a stable job. This situation has been deteriorating in recent years due to the impact of the crisis. The regulations on the use of fixed-term contracts are changing and making their use more flexible. Incentives exist to encourage employers to conclude permanent contracts with the unemployed or to take on young people who have completed an internship on permanent contracts, but the share of young temporary employees has been constant and fast increasing.
Below is a list of legislation related to youth in Portugal.
2012
- Decree-Law 64/2012
According to Decree-Law 64/2012 of 15 March, all economically dependent workers in Portugal are covered by unemployment insurance benefits. - Decree-Law 397/2007 on Minimum Wages
Portugal's law on the national minimum wage was amended in order to correct the discrimination against young people in the existing legislation. - Ordinance No. 11/2012
Approves the Statute of the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth.
2011
- Decree - Law 98 /2011
Decree-Law Creating the Portuguese Institute of Sport and Youth. - Ordinance No. 69/2011
Establishes a network of information regarding the Youth sector. - Ordinance No. 110-A/2011
First amendment to Ordinance No 1103 /2008 of 2 October, establishing a scheme for the provision of technical and financial support of INOV - JOVEM measures, INOV Contact , INOV Vasco da Gama , INOV-art and INOV Mundus and defines the performance standards and monitoring.
2010
- Diary of the Republic No. 73, Series I
Urges the Government to adopt measures to encourage the ‘Movimento Associativo Popular’. - Ordinance No. 238/2010
Establishes a scheme for the provision of technical and financial support of INOV -Export and defines the performance standards and monitoring. It also approves the regulation of the measure. - Resolution of Parliament No 34/2010 of April 22 Gazette No. 78, Series I
Urges the Government to regulate the application of social partner status to the Associative Popular Movement, as required by the Law No. 34/2003, of August 22. - Ordinance No. 1276/2010
Third Amendment to Regulation of the Financial Support Programs regarding Youth Associations, and approved by Decree 1230/ 2006 of 15 November. - Resolution of the Assembly of the Republic No. 46 /2010
The law states that women have the right to information and access to information regarding sexuality and reproduction in their life cycle. - Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 5/2010
Employment Initiative 2010 (package of 17 measures to ensure continued employment, to encourage the integration of young people into the labor market, to promote job creation and to fight unemployment). - Ordinance No. 298/2010 Amendment Ordinance No. 127/2009
Order establishing and regulating the operation of private vocational integration, providing support to young people and unemployed adults. - Decree - Law No. 18 /2010
The Decree-Law establishes the regime Placement Program in Public Administration Ordinance No. 172-A/2010. It sets the maximum number of trainees to be selected and their distribution among promoters, according to the area of education / training. - Ordinances No. 1235/2010 and 1236/2010
Provides a guideline on the fixed number of trainees and establishing the rules. - Ordinance No. 277-A/2010
Regulates Decree-Law No. 308/ 2007 of 3 September, as amended by Decree-Law No. 61-A/2008, establishing the program of financial support for young people. - Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 27/2010
National Plan for Equality - Gender, Citizenship and non-discrimination.
2009
- Labor Code (approved by Law No. 7/2009 of 12 February 2009) regulated by Law No. 105/2009
According to Article 68 of the Labor Code the minimum age for employment is 16, provided that the young worker has completed compulsory education. - Law No. 60/2009
Mandatory sexual education in schools. - Order No. 16070/2009
Increases the value of scholarships awarded to students from public and private higher education, for the academic year of 2009/2010. - Order No. 17706/2009
Determines the allocation of additional grants of amounts not less than 50% of the minimum Erasmus scholarship, to undergraduate students who have been awarded Erasmus grants and are fellows of social action. - Ordinance No. 985/2009
Program for Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment.
2007
- Decree-Law 397/2007 on Minimum Wages
Portugal's law on the national minimum wage was amended in order to correct the discrimination against young people in the existing legislation. - Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 94/2007
Provides definitions, objectives and rules of the Community Program: "Youth in Action”. - Ordinance No. 1515-A/2007
Regulates Decree-Law No. 308/ 2007, creating a financial support program for Youth Holiday. - Resolution of the Council of Ministers No. 77/2007
Establishes Inter-Ministerial Commission on Youth. - Law No. 16/2007
This law allows abortion to be undertaken on demand, if a woman’s pregnancy has not exceeded its tenth week.
2006
- Law No. 23/2006, of June 23 - Gazette No 120, Series I
Establishes the legal regime of the young associations. - Ordinance No. 1227/2006
Regulates the recognition of youth associations. - Ordinance No. 345/2006 -
Creates Mobility and Exchange Program for Young and adopt its rules.
2004
- Law No. 20/2004, of June 5 -. Gazette No 132, Series I
Statute of Director Volunteer Membership
2003
- Law No. 34/2003, of August 22 -. Gazette No. 193, Series IA. Recognition and appreciation of the Popular Associative Movement
2001
- Law No. 90/2001
Sets measures of social support for mothers and fathers who are still studying
1999
- Law No. 124/99, of August 20 - Gazette No 194, Series I
Ensures young people under the free exercise of the right of association and simplifies the process of constitution of youth associations - Law No. 147/99
Includes a set of measures aimed at the promotion of rights and protection of children and youngsters at risk, in order to ensure their well-being and integral development
1998
- Law 71 /98-
Provides the basis of the legal framework of volunteering
1997
- Ordinance No. 57/ 97
Provides the foundations for the Creation of Young Artists Program
