Part-time employment: do Portuguese work-accident benefits use only the pay received?

The specific rule for part-time work

Article 71(9) of Law 98/2009 uses the remuneration the worker would earn in full-time employment as the basis. The article also sets rules for gross annual remuneration and situations involving several employers. A part-time payslip alone does not resolve that calculation.

This does not mean automatically receiving a full salary after every accident. The relevant benefit and other applicable factors must be identified. Tiago and Clara start with the right question: which remuneration basis is being used, and how was it established?

Sources: Diário da República — Law 98/2009, consolidated text, Article 71, particularly paragraphs 1–3, 8 and 9; last amendment shown 7 November 2024, consulted 30 October 2026 ↗

The uniform policy reflects the distinction

Clause 21 of the uniform policy wording approved by Ordinance 256/2011 assigns determination of the insured remuneration to the policyholder and contains the part-time calculation rule. Submitted information should identify the working arrangement rather than present an unexplained total.

When preparing insurance, organise the contracted hours, duties and remuneration details. If the appropriate amount is unclear, ask the accountant and intermediary for the basis and supporting records needed. Do not multiply pay by an arbitrary factor just to finish the quotation request.

Sources: Diário da República — Ordinance 256/2011, uniform occupational accident policy, Clause 21; consulted 30 October 2026 (Portuguese text) ↗

Compare three lines without promising an outcome

As a reading method, separate actual pay, remuneration declared for insurance and the benefit calculation basis. For each amount, note the date, period and source document. A difference needs clarification rather than an immediate conclusion about error or non-compliance.

Tiago realises he lacks enough information to predict a benefit amount. Clara helps him request a written explanation of the calculation and the information used. She does not turn a discussion of pay into a decision about incapacity or entitlement.

Prepare a review or support request

If you are an employer seeking a quotation, explain that the work is part-time and supply details through the indicated channel. If an accident has already occurred, use the existing policy's claims process and retain relevant payslips, employment records and communications. These are different purposes for the records.

At RMACHADO, request an occupational accident quotation or help organising a question about an existing policy. Do not post payslips, clinical information or workers' documents on social media.