A recent change in Portugal's Labor Code prohibits employers (bosses) from contacting their employees when they are off duty, except in cases of force majeure.

The employer "has the duty to refrain from contacting the worker during the rest period, except in situations of force majeure," says the parliament.

The amendment covers all workers. But also, the parliamentarians approved a proposal that sets as a special duty of the employer, in case of telework, whose inherent expenses should be borne by the employer, also refrain from making contacts, during the rest period. The violation of the employer's duty not to contact the employee, during rest periods, "constitutes a serious administrative offence", according to the Portuguese parliament.

The proposed law provides that workers should be entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours of "night rest," during which they should not be interrupted.

Employers who do not comply with the new rules can be fined, but the laws do not apply to companies with fewer than 10 employees.